Remote work is a progressive way to operate in modern business. Remote work was not possible until recently. Telemarketing jobs with low pay were the only options. Remoteworking is now almost a standard practice in all developed countries, thanks to the internet and great technological advances.
There is still a certain resistance toremote working, with some companies unwilling to trust the newworking-from-anywhere mandate. Remote working with teams spread around the globe is the future, and businesses looking to gain a competitive edge need to adapt.
It’s not easy to work remotely, for both employees and employers. It will not work if both sides make adjustments. Remote working may not be able to meet the same work criteria as onsite office setups.
Remote workers are essential to your business’ success. Here are some of these challenges and how you can manage them.
Management skills
Remote management requires a different skill set than traditional onsite management. It is crucial to upskill managers in order to be able to manage remote teams in the digital age.
Managers will need more frequent contact with remote workers to inquire about their workload and progress, but without micromanaging. It is important to set clear expectations and provide regular feedback to remote employees.
Managers must also be available to remote workers at specific times and in multiple time zones. They should also be able to use a variety communication technologies such as Skype or Slack.
Communication and meetings
Businesses that move to remote workers face major challenges in adapting their communication strategies. Remote teams can’t use the same communication strategies that work in traditional offices.
In a traditional office, it is easy to call someone into a meeting. You can literally call them into the meeting room from their desk. Remote workers can also be called into the meeting room via video conferencing, provided they are in the same time zone.
It is much more difficult to call impromptu meetings for remote workers, especially if they are in vastly different time zones and where employees set their own work hours.
To avoid disconnect, it is important to communicate and meet regularly with remote teams. Employees who feel disconnected from the business will be less motivated, unhappy and more engaged in their work. Managers need to be more proactive in communicating with remote employees without the same banter and catch up that happens in the traditional office.
Some training specialists offer customized courses for managers to help them better understand the needsof remote staff. This is a worthwhile investment that will result in a better culture and stronger connections between remote employees and management.
One-on-ones
It is becoming more common for managers to have regular one-on-one conversations with staff, rather than an annual review. Regular informal conversations about work and personal problems can help employees engage and encourage managers to adopt a coaching mentality.
Remote teams can make it more difficult to have meaningful one-on-1 conversations. Lindsay Holmwood, a manager at Envato Elements, works remotely. When it comes to remote one to one meetings with hisstaff, his focus is to get his team members open up and be truthful. He asks, “What could I do differently to help you?” Then he wraps up by asking if there is anything else you would like to discuss.
Importantly, one on one meetings should be conducted via video conferencing. This allows managers to read facial expressions.
