Workforce management seems easy until you’re the one doing it. The past two years have been stressful for us all. However, when it comes to managers, they had to adapt to a completely new work style that has brought a lot of anxiety and anticipation.
We can agree that remote work comes with a lot of benefits for both employers and employees. But preparing your team to remain working remotely while the others are shifting to on-site work type can certainly be challenging. Therefore, you can check out these tips and tricks that will help you lead your team to success!
1. Building trust
When it comes to remote working, managers struggle to trust their employees. Micro-management and maintaining a sense of control can minimize employees’ morale and productivity. So, if you want to run a successful remote team, you need to build trust. How do you do so when you’re far away from each other?
Building trust and relationships don’t only happen in the office. You can always organize a team building or a meeting where people can get to know each other better. On top of that, the secret of trust lies in your team. You’ve hired experts in the field, so let them show you what they can do! Have trust in their abilities and you can achieve the wanted results.
2. Company culture
Company or organizational culture are beliefs, behaviors, and goals a company and its employees share. Core beliefs and values are usually implemented in the beginning, but with time the change is possible. Therefore, if your company puts trust in tradition and its ways, you might need to shine a light on innovative ways of thinking!
To make remote work successful for your organization, you need to highlight a new perspective of your company culture. Make remote work a norm, not a benefit. On top of that, value the behavior that comes with it. Make the change gradual. Keep in mind that not everyone is young and ready to try something new. Older generations might struggle, so provide them with necessary support throughout the process.
3. Performance management
Being in the office premises allows you to sit in the same office with your team and explain the task in detail. Not being able to do the same is one of the greatest cons of remote work. Even though you may trust your employees, how will you know they’ve used the correct ways and efficiently completed their tasks, without slacking? If you want to track the working hours of your employees. It’s really a great idea to use time tracking software as it will increase their productivity.
The truth is, you won’t! However, you can implement certain measurements of performance, such as KPIs and one on one meetings. These methods allow you to track your employees’ success without micro-managing or controlling their every move. Organize a weekly or monthly personal meeting and discuss your teams’ progress.
4. Communication and collaboration
We can agree that one of the biggest challenges of remote work is communication. Since employees are no longer sitting together, sharing their thoughts and struggles, they tend to grow further apart. This may cause feelings of anxiety and isolation, which will affect the entire workflow. So, it’s up to you to find suitable ways to keep them engaged and in touch.
Utilize digital tools for communication. We live in the modern era where our lives happen through phone screens. Then why wouldn’t we be able to interact and chat with colleagues via the internet? Platforms and programs such as the Blink website allow your employees to maintain a professional yet friendly relationship. It helps them share files, get the needed information and chat with one another.
5. Importance of security
When working remotely, we tend to neglect the importance of security. With so many cyber-attacks happening daily, your business can be jeopardized quite easily if you don’t take security into consideration. What are some of the main ways you can create a safe environment for your remote team to work in?
Even though you can’t predict every detail, it’s up to you to minimize security risks. So, start by implementing a necessary security training that will educate your employees on these matters. Also, security policies and safety protocols are a must-have if you work with confidential data. Lastly, have a crisis plan you can activate in case an accident or an attack happens!
Wrapping up
Managing a remote team isn’t easy. However, if you take these tips and tricks into consideration, you’re closer to your goal which is a successful remote team. Follow the advice given, and you’ll smoothly operate your team no matter where they are!