With most Americans forced to telecommute due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we must all adjust to a new way of working and thinking.

A disruption in your regular routine likely feels uncomfortable. And things may never go back to “normal” or the way they were. To effectively communicate, collaborate and achieve cultural harmony, you need focus, preparation, and patience.

To learn the best practices of working remotely, we talked with a company that was founded with a virtual workforce over a decade ago. Chief Outsiders provides interim marketing executives to middle market companies. Managing partner and book author, Karen Hayward, discussed the importance of establishing a routine, the need to plan ahead, and ways to stay connected—and even thrive—in today’s fast-paced world.