Remote work has been around for quite some time now but with the pandemic we have now, the percentage of remote work is probably at an all-time high. Whether you’re a tax consultant, a freelance graphic artist, a court reporter, or real estate agent, most folks have taken their work home.
Companies and corporations were forced to employ work-from-home arrangements to keep their businesses afloat amid the global health and financial crisis.
For those businesses that don’t have any existing infrastructure to support remote work, it may be too late for them to start working on flexible work arrangement policies now. However, that’s not to say that it is impossible for them to still run their business efficiently as if everyone’s still working at the office.
Here are a few tips for keeping your remote workforce productive and fully engaged despite the present circumstances.
5 Ways to Manage Your Remote Team to Keep Them Productive and Efficient
1.Connect with your employees.
The pandemic has triggered different responses from people. Take time to observe your people and see if they are showing any signs of distress. Use indirect observation and direct conversations to get a feel of how your workers are doing. Use every opportunity you can to show them your concern and your support, especially at this time.
Employees know when a manager or employer sincerely cares for them. This promotes a greater sense of trust and confidence in them knowing that the management cares about their needs and is concerned about their concerns.
2. Make sure they are equipped for remote work.
Most people think that you only need a laptop and a mobile phone to get remote work done. While these are very essential tools to have, there are other things they need to stay productive at home. Make sure to have a checklist of essential equipment and see how you can help your employees with their needs.
3. Open the lines of communication.
Effective communication leads to efficient operations. Keep the communication line between you and your workers open. In fact, you should encourage dialogs more often to keep them engaged. Answer their questions and be as transparent and honest as you can. This helps your employees to build a greater trust in you and the management.
4. Learn how to trust your employees completely.
Admittedly, a lot of managers find it a bit frustrating not to be able to closely monitor their workers’ progress. Since we’re living under unusual circumstances, it will help you (and your employees, ultimately) if you let go of your micromanaging ways and just trust that they will get the job done. Knowing that their managers trust them is an empowering experience for workers which further motivates them to do better at work.
5. Put greater emphasis on objectives and output.
At this point, a lot of conventions have been thrown out the window which forced people to adapt to the present needs and adopt creative and innovative yet highly unconventional ways. Give your employees the benefit of the doubt and don’t dismiss what they’re doing. Allow a little room for creativity for them, as long as they get the job done right.
Don’t get fixated with the usual processes. Focus rather on their output and the outcome. Give them the support and guidance that they need but at the end of the day, let them take the reins and trust that they will deliver.
Showing empathy and concern for your employees is perhaps the main ingredient in keeping their morale high and focus laser-like. If you take care of your workers, they will take care of you.
