The coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way companies operate across the globe. Companies have been forced to re-arrange operations and employees to work from home. This is to conform to the newly set government and health regulations, which aim to curb the spread of the coronavirus. You may find it hard to manage your remote workforce, especially if this is the first time you are doing so.
This article seeks to cover the various ways that will help you effectively manage your remote workforce, ensuring operations run smoothly and productivity is maintained.
Effective Communication
As you make this change throughout your organisation, your employees will be looking up to you for guidance. Be there for them and relay important information through video conferences. Delegate tasks and update your employees on any changes that may occur in the near future to prepare.
As a leader, you will be required to implement some additional strategies that will boost productivity. Virtual happy hours will do the trick. Also, by specifying the required working hours, employees can spend quality time with their families during their free time, developing a work and life balance in the process.
Listen to your workers.
Being that this is a huge change to your employees, questions may arise amid shifting operations to their homes. You need to listen to your employees’ problems and challenges and help them overcome these challenges. You can also form an experienced team that will receive any queries that will help your employees adapt to working remotely as fast as possible to get your business up and running in no time.
Have a centralised Tool of operations
This means that they use a common platform through which employees can turn in their work and make calls to inquire about something. For example, you may use Zoom as a single platform for employees to interact and accomplish teamwork projects. Also, having a centralised point of communication will allow you to find important information with ease and analyse data quickly and efficiently.
Incorporate Technology
Technology is ever on the rise. Take advantage of technological development and incorporate some state of the art technology into your remote operations. These pieces of technology allow for effective communication throughout the various departments of your organisations, thus allowing for free flow of work and information. Utilise communication platforms like ZOOM to allow for quality video conferencing.
Also, take advantage of the best time and attendance software. This software helps you monitor employees remotely. It also helps employees keep deadlines and produce desirable results. In addition, get some latest tech to your employees that will allow them to communicate efficiently from home—for example, some quality headphones and a good internet connection.
Encourage Teamwork and get-togethers.
Your employees are probably used to working from the office, and the sudden shift may affect their productivity. It is vital to give your employees some teamwork tasks to enable them to interact and shift the focus from the ongoing pandemic, which may be quite overwhelming. Also, allow your employees to have interactive sessions every once in a while through a web conferencing platform. Connecting with their peers will help in building a positive mindset and foster good relationships within the organisation.
Set Clear Expectations
Effectively communicate your expectations to the team. This will enable them to plan their schedules well in order to ensure timely hand-ins and completion of projects. Also, as a leader, it is important to be understanding. The pandemic has overwhelmed parents across the globe who have to work remotely and ensure their children are learning as well. Be lenient and formulate clear policies and expectations that are considered to every organisation member.
Employ Techniques that will Measure Productivity
It is only by measuring productivity that you will know how your business is fairing as your workforce works remotely. Employ techniques such as client surveys that will let you know how your service delivery is. The surveys will enlighten you on what you need to work on to improve your remote workforce’s efficiency.
Training
Provide your workforce with the necessary skills they will require in order to work remotely. Provide them with the basics first, and as time goes by, they will adapt to the new technology that will help in handing in projects and interactive sessions remotely from home.
It is important to invest in improving your remote workforce because the current situation may persist for quite some time. Also, you may find working remotely important even after the pandemic. Focus on boosting the productivity of your employees through effective and open communication channels. The above tips will help you manage your remote workforce and improve remote operations.
