To some, remote working provides an ideal career opportunity, one that allows them the freedom they need to thrive in the modern business arena.
To others, remote working is still an uncomfortable and fairly alien topic, particularly those who struggle with technology and miss the traditional water-cooler culture of the past.
This polarization can greatly hinder the effectiveness of a team, so steps should be taken to ensure that everyone is appeased, cared for and listened to.
If you are worried about the effectiveness of your own team and wish to make some positive changes to your efforts in remote business, here are some tips to help you out.
Training Opportunities
Up-skilling and regular training is possibly one of the best ways to make your workforce more proficient, and it is often a necessity if you want your workforce to compete in the future of business.
It’s difficult to say what the future of work has in store, so preparation and training is vital in supplying your employees with the tools they need to succeed.
You might want to check out a diverse and highly customizable skills tests library, as this can offer your employees opportunities to hone their particular skill sets and help them improve in specific areas should they need to.
Motivation and Encouragement
Sometimes, a little encouragement from the management is all that is needed to inspire motivation, especially if done tactfully and on an individual basis.
Recognizing the needs of the individual worker can help you to decide how exactly you should approach them, and which words of encouragement will get through.
When working remotely, it can be easy to lose the feeling of team spirit if nothing is done to nurture company culture, so reaching out and scheduling one-on-one meetings is a good way to reassure your employees that they are indeed valued and recognized.
Organizing social events online can also be a superb method of keeping your remote workforce engaged. If employees feel as though they’re working for a purpose, a common goal as part of a team, there is a chance they will start to become more productive, thus increasing their effectiveness.
Supply the Right Equipment
If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to suffer your way through a conference with a bad internet connection, a poorly functioning microphone or a pixelated camera, you will probably know what it is like to be utterly infuriated.
The same goes for your remote workforce. If they do not have the tech to support them, their daily working routine will likely be much harder than it needs to be. Supplying them with the right equipment is a way around this. Plus, it can make your employees feel appreciated.
Having the right tools for the job is a fantastic way to increase effectiveness across the board, and to potentially optimize your daily processes.
Promote Autonomy
Autonomy can be a highly valuable tool for a well-established workforce, and it can help people feel less guilty about their personal practices when working from home.
Promoting freedom and autonomy among your workforce may help you to increase productivity moving forward, while nurturing a team of innovative individuals.
Interesting related article: “What is Teleworking?“