Telecommuting is an important part of companies, a trend that accelerated due to COVID-19, which forced them to relocate teams. After this time, many have not acquired this model as a temporary solution but as a permanent practice, either totally or partially.
To take advantage of this work system and minimize inconveniences, remote teams must be properly managed. It is not an easy task since it is a type of leadership with which many managers are not entirely familiar. Therefore, it is interesting that you know the main aspects to consider.
Support Personal And Work Conciliation (And Set An Example)
Generally, employees were used to circumscribing their work activity while in the workspace. However, working from home blurs those established boundaries and can make it difficult to separate your professional life from your personal life.
A fundamental aspect in this sense is digital disconnection, guaranteeing it. It is good that you remind your employees of the importance of closing the work email and silencing the related notifications once they finish their day so that they can rest properly and Focus their minds on your matters.
The physical space also has a notorious influence when differentiating the professional sphere from the personal one. For this reason, it is recommended that each worker have a specific space for work activity, which allows them to disconnect from work when they leave.
Create A Daily Routine
In face-to-face work, there is usually daily planning of assigned tasks and regular meetings to maintain an organization at an individual and collective level. However, the relocation of teams can make this task more complex, as there is no common space.
All this can be compensated by taking advantage of the many digital organizational tools and transforming face-to-face meetings into video conferences. This way, the work routine will not be altered, and productivity will not decrease. It can even increase. In addition, it is convenient for each employee to maintain their start and end routine for the day, in addition to breaks. One of the advantages of teleworking is its great flexibility to adjust to the needs of each professional.
Communication And More Communication
A good level of communication is essential in any work environment, and even more so when it comes to telecommuting, to keep all staff on the same page and avoid potential mistakes. To do this, you must ensure a frequent two-way communication flow at all levels.
One of the risks of teleworking is the loss of cohesion and the sense of belonging. It is very important to open all possible communication channels and encourage dialogue horizontally between teammates or even from different departments.
For this, it is very useful to have a platform to integrate all the organization’s communication (virtual meetings, group and individual chats, etc.).
Do Not Forget Anyone…
In addition to maintaining constant communication on daily aspects of work, it is essential to encourage frequent review at the individual and group level to ensure that no employee is left without expressing their doubts, suggestions or any aspect they wish to comment on.
In this way, professionals will perceive a greater closeness with the person in charge and, therefore, feel more motivated, valued and important to the company.
But Don’t Be Too On Top. Promote Autonomy!
It is normal that, in remote work, a manager feels more distant from the employees’ activity, which leads him to fall into micromanagement, that is, excessive control over the professional and his tasks, which can be interpreted as a lack of trust by the employee. To avoid these problems, the best recipe is to balance the level of communication we recommended in the previous points and enhance the workers’ autonomy.
Telecommuting is a great opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work independently and self-manage their work effectively and responsibly. Therefore, if your employees have a high degree of autonomy, it will improve their capacity for professional development.
Provide The Necessary Tools And Technical Support
Remote work requires various technological tools to be carried out properly and efficiently. When making the devices and software they need available to employees, there are several key points to keep in mind:
– Provide the necessary training: it is of little use for your talent to have the latest technology if they do not acquire the necessary knowledge to get the most out of it.
– Update: digital platforms are constantly evolving, offering an ever greater range of possibilities to eliminate the barriers of space and time. Teleworking will be simpler and more effective if you modernize and squeeze them.
– Planning and resolving incidents: planning different scenarios to provide a quick and effective response to possible technical problems is essential to prevent them from slowing down activity.
Guarantees Cybersecurity For Employees And The Company
The advance of digitization entails a parallel increase in the risks that affect network security. A simple cyberattack can disable digital platforms for a prolonged period, and you must be able to prevent them.
For this, the best solution is to protect the most sensitive data (users, passwords, protocols, confidential information, etc.) and use a virtual private network (VPN) to reduce digital exposure to the outside world.
Look Beyond The Horizon: Raise Expectations For The Future.
The impact of COVID-19 led to the implementation of teleworking as a short-term measure to respond to the most immediate challenges. But once its advantages have been verified, it is necessary to consider how it can benefit your company and your employees in the medium and long term.