Modern technology gives businesses a significant advantage when hiring employees. As a business owner, you no longer need to develop your company in geographic areas to attract qualified talent. Remote solutions allow you to hire the best talent, regardless of the location of your office. While utilizing a remote workforce is a great way to fulfill open positions, it comes with unique management challenges. Here are some ways you can make your remote team more successful.
Boost Your Cloud
Most managers find a cloud management service helps the business develop a plan for building a successful remote system for employees. Your team can use the cloud for file sharing collaboration, data migration, and adhering to government regulations. The cloud also allows employees access to corporate databases and software so team members can collaborate and make real-time changes to documents, spreadsheets, or databases.
Establish Security Guidelines
Securing corporate data should be your primary concern when establishing remote work policies. Companies must always secure their corporate information, but many businesses must also secure confidential customer or vendor data. Set up a formal training program to review security policies. Your remote employees should recognize their role in maintaining data security by:
- Encrypting data stored on their computer
- Maintaining physical security of company equipment
- Avoiding public Wi-Fi
- Working on company equipment, not personal equipment
Examine Your Organizational Chart
You may need to streamline individual job descriptions to maintain efficiency. Use time tracker with screenshots to distribute workload evenly among all team members. Sometimes it’s necessary to reassign tasks from one employee to another because transitioning tasks between remote employees may be more logistically challenging.
Structure Corporate Goals
Review your company mission statement to make sure it aligns with your vision. For example, a remote workforce allows you to hire a more diverse staff. If sustainability is important to you, cutting back on required office space allows your business to reduce the carbon footprint of office buildings. You can also introduce a new revenue stream by leasing a portion of your unused office space to smaller companies.
Give Employees a Choice
When possible, offer employees a choice to work in the office. Even with all of the benefits of working from home – shortened commute time, flexible work schedule, and increased productivity – some employees prefer working in the office. Over 60% of employees prefer working remotely part-time, while about 11% enjoy working in the office full-time. They may feel that being in an office helps them focus on their projects. Alternatively, not all employees can dedicate a space in their residence for a home office.
Meet With Your Employees
Remote employees need to know that you are committed to their growth and development in the company. Make sure they receive all communication from management and their peers. For example, commit to weekly team meetings where everyone hears the same information and engages with each other. In addition to meeting as a team, establish a schedule to speak with each employee individually. Phone calls or virtual meetings help employees feel valued and establish an open-door policy. If employees work in the office part-time, be sure to drop by the office to meet with them.
Develop a Mentorship Program
Some of your employees might struggle when transitioning to remote work. They may find it difficult to focus when working from home or depend on others to help them prioritize their workload. A mentorship program can help those employees by matching them with more experienced company members that can share knowledge and resources. The mentee has a personal contact to help them understand how their job function impacts the overall corporate goals. The mentor can provide resources directly to their mentee or management for formal training sessions, such as:
- Time management
- Security policies
- Business communication strategies
Mandate Work-Life Balance
Almost 50% of employees report working more hours from their remote location than when they worked in the office full-time. While part of this may be attributed to greater accessibility of the company computer, managers need to help their employees maintain a positive work-life balance. Some applications monitor your staff’s time on their computers but pay attention to your employees’ schedules. Be open with your team about maintaining their physical and mental health. Lead by example and take care of your positive work-life balance. Implement policies, such as mandatory personal time off, forwarding all company telephones to voicemail during non-work hours, or subscribing to a workplace well-being service.
As an employer, creating a successful remote office team starts with a great plan. Listen to your employees and remain flexible as you and your staff adjust to the new workflow. Maintain an open line of communication to be responsive to your employees. With these steps and your management skills, your remote workforce will be successful.
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