Remote Work Is Here To Stay, But Is Your Company Ready For It?

With trends like Cloud Computing and the increasing use of the internet, the way we operate our business has changed completely. We no longer have to worry about finding someone in the same city with the necessary expertise and talent. Instead, we can hire a remote team of experts from anywhere around the world. Remote working is no longer a nice-to-have facility but has become a business essential for the future. 62% of remote workers said that the flexibility has helped them focus more on work and companies have noticed their teams to be 24% more likely to be productive and happy in their work. However, remote working is not as easy as it seems to be. Managing remote work is a skill that needs to be mastered by careful planning and a well-thought-out strategy. It brings along various challenges. We at HatsOff understood this very well when we had our entire team working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. In this blog, we share some tips we gained from our experience. Here are a few pointers that might be useful:

1. Set clear remote work policies

Managing teams can get difficult when working online. Since your team members are not in the same physical space as your, you might find difficulty in keeping a check on them. You do not know what they are doing- whether they are sincerely doing their work or just scrolling through social media on their phones. In this case, only a clear remote work policy with defined roles and responsibilities of each employee will help you keep track. When you set certain standards that each employee will have to meet to ensure the timely delivery of their tasks, it will make sure your business runs seamlessly.

2. Make communication easier between the team

It might take a little extra effort for remote teams to foster collegiality and teamwork. It may seem artificial or cumbersome but encourage your remote employee to contact you and the other team members without hesitation. For this, you will have to look for a communication channel that is easy to use. There are many communication channels available like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and so on.

3. Follow up with remote employees regularly

You will also need to indulge in daily meetings at a fixed time with your teammates so that you know the work?s progress. It will also be an opportunity to clear all your doubts and ensure that tasks are executed faster. Tracking the performance of your team will always prove beneficial. Regularly schedule one on one calls- weekly or biweekly- where you can:

• Check if the employee is doing well overall.
• Work with the employee to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Answer a range of questions relevant to the employee.
• Ask for their feedback and try to implement their suggestions whenever you can.

4. Offer real-time feedback

Offering real-time feedback to your team members will help you become more productive. It helps them realize where they are lacking and how they can work to improve their productivity. So, make sure to regularly talk to your team members and offer them feedback on their work. This will help them make grow and improve their work.

5. Allow flexible work hours

Working from home is full of distractions. There may be many other things your team members may need to take care of. Offer flexible work hours to your employees so they are able to offer enough time as per their convenience and give a hundred percent to work. Meanwhile, you can ensure their availability through virtual tools if you need their help.

6. Resist the urge to micromanage

You should not be looking over your team?s shoulders while they work from the office and you shouldn?t do it while they work remotely as well. Regular checkups and meetings are good, but try not to micromanage. Trust that your team members are being productive and working efficiently if they are communicating effectively and meeting all the goals and deadlines.

7. Celebrate successes

Managers should look for opportunities to celebrate work milestones and achievements. Celebrating the successes of your teammates and the team?s accomplishments will help keep your teammates motivated and working efficiently. As intriguing as the idea of remote work sounds, it is a learning experience on its own. You will face several problems, things might go off track and at times you will feel overwhelmed. However, keeping these pointers in mind while working remotely will help you manage your employee better throughout your journey. What other tips would you suggest employers to follow? Comment below.