As the world was quickly shut down at the start of 2020, the vast majority of us were forced into the new, and frankly daunting world of home working.
The first point to consider, as a manager or leader of a team, is that for some employees, home working may be very demanding. This is especially the case if there are children living in the household, there may be a lack of access to specific resources or training, or even struggle with the lack of face to face interaction.
Although there are a number of challenges that can and do present themselves, there are various ways in which the transition can be easier for everyone.
- Schedule in regular catch-ups with your team
When you’re working from home, days can be long without hearing from or seeing a friendly face. Checking in with your team may be overkill, however, having a friendly chat, discussing some work-related topics, and reiterating that you’re available for a friendly chat at any point. The pandemic has been tough for every single one of us, so offering that friendly ear could make a world of difference – to encourage motivation, interaction and even more confidence. - Technology is your new best friend
Most of us have had to accept that technology is now a major part of our day to day lives, keeping us all connected. Programmes such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams have helped us all through a difficult period in our lives, and indeed they will continue to help us to complete tasks and form strategies for the foreseeable. - Be flexible
Flexibility is key for the success of remote working. As a manager, it’s important to remember that staff members will not be able to spend every minute of every day sat directly in front of their screens. They may have children who need to be entertained, various meetings that need to take place, as well as breaks throughout the day. This flexibility doesn’t mean a drop in productivity – quite the contrary, in fact. Statistics have shown that offering a flexible workplace encourages productivity and boosts moral which is exactly the sort of workforce you’re looking to engage with. - Manage expectations
This leads us on to the next point which is to have a reasonable level of expectation. At times, life throws unexpected things our way which require immediate action which can impact the quality or quantity of work produced. Offering flexibility, being realistic, and showing support can all have a positive impact and will ultimately lead to higher quality of work.
Of course, the past year or so has been difficult for us all – every single one of us has had to dig deep, adjust the way we work, indeed, the way we live our lives. Consider the points above to manage your team effectively as possible – working remotely should be beneficial for us all!
