As the Covid-19 catastrophe proceeds further without any containment, it is safe to say that work from home is here to stay. Businesses are now opting for newer strategies that can help them sail beneficially through the Covid-19 tide. Both, the employer and the employee have been hit hard in the corona event. And, both struggle with the same thing, managing remote team.
Being a decade-old recruitment agency, Kaapro Management Solutions, we have listed down possible ways that can help you in managing your remote team effectively.
1. Leverage Technology:
The most important thing to consider while managing a remote team is Communication. Ironically, communication is also something that can create havoc if not done properly.
Decide on a simpler and accepted tool of communication like emails, phone calls, texting, or video conference. This will help you with appropriately balancing the bombarded calls and total silence.
It is for sure, meetings will arise, whether professional or personal. For an effective outcome, always try video conferencing rather than stating the message on phone calls or texts. It creates a helpful link-building between you and your employees. It also gives a sense of one-on-one discussion with face-to-face meet-ups.
Invest in basic communication tools like Zoom, Microsoft Meets, and Google Hangouts. This will ensure your entire team is available on one platform and can be accessed any time of the day.
If your company provides all the working equipment to the employees, it might create a problem now that your team is remote. They might not have an access to few things that are rooted for working. Things like access to unlimited Internet, laptop/computer facilities or simple webcam. It cannot be assumed that all your employees are well-equipped. Being a responsible firm it is your duty to ensure they have what they need.
2. Manage Expectations:
Considering the situation be lenient but not so much that the authoritarian figure is forgotten.
Assigning work early and moderately will make your employees work more diligently. You should remember that though working from home, they have situations to tend to. This surely does not give them the right to be negligent towards their work, but you have to be considerate while setting work expectations.
When in an office environment, you can keep an eye on who came and worked for how much time. But, in a remote situation, it becomes fairly impossible to do so. Therefore, rather than focusing on how many hours someone worked, calculate the end outcome an employee brings about. For instance, take a report of your employees on the basis of how much was accomplished and not how many hours they contributed.
Here, make your employees transparent on the management chain. If someone is unable to meet a deadline, they should be quick to inform so the firm can take necessary actions. Whether to shift the deadline further or to hand over the project to someone else completely is the head’s call.
3. Build intimate connections:
By intimate connections, we do not mean to throw personal space out of the window and get close to your employees. It means in these trying times, be connected as appropriately as possible.
Whenever possible take a break from being a professional and indulge in close-knit employee conversations. This will lead to them being more open towards you and report you properly. A deadly boss can gain a bad reputation when right now everyone needs comforting. They will also significantly gain the motivation to present their best.
When working with a remote team, the key is being flexible yet consistent. Now, that the office hours are irrelevant, give your employees flexibility on work hours. Like if they wish to work in the morning or during the evening, consider their excuse. As stated before, focus on tasks accomplished.
·Now that employee face-to-face conversations are packed in a box, what will be beneficial is that have a recreational meet. And by meet, we obviously mean digitally coming together. Once in a while preferably on Saturdays schedule a meeting that is purely recreational.
If you have nailed the work from home memoranda, post in the comments your experiences. And if you find these helpful you can read our other blog posts for professional tips and tricks.
