A year ago, you might have perceived remote working as a contingency for times when it’s completely impossible to have your team physically present. Now, things have definitely changed. This could possibly be the new normal for the next few months as we try our best to find a solution to this global pandemic.
Unfortunately, some businesses haven’t seen fit to make the switch to online work. Many aspects need to be addressed in order to create a system that works for team productivity. With this in mind, what are some things you need to consider when preparing for online work?
The very first thing you need to address is whether your team is sufficiently equipped for online work. This means that some of them might have to bring company equipment home.
You’ll also have to compensate for extra costs. Employees may need to upgrade their home offices and internet connections to allow for smooth collaboration. Being reasonable here ensures that your team feels connected and loyal to the company. It’s also because it’s the fair thing to do.
It’s also important to give your team the means to work collaboratively while online. Video conferencing tools and tools like Skype, Hangouts, and Slack will help your team keep in touch, while cloud storage tools like G Suite will contain all the productivity apps you need for business.
Other tools, such as this pay stub generator, create a convenient way for employees to calculate and tally their earnings securely.
Setting the right expectations ensures that each team member knows the role that he or she has been assigned. It’s important to establish a timeframe so that your team knows what to do and when to do it.
Show examples, share your work calendar, and make sure that each member of the team understands what you’re expecting. It’s important to give and receive regular feedback so that you’re able to make the necessary adjustments if there be miscalculations.
When your team transitions into a remote team, you should also transition into a leader capable of leading such a team.
Just because you’ve gotten your team to work remotely doesn’t mean that you should stop offering opportunities for their career progression. There are a wide variety of options that you can use for this purpose.
Webinars, massive online courses, LinkedIn Learning, and one-on-one training sessions are all valid training opportunities that will not only develop the skills of your team members but will also contribute to talent retention. After all, nobody wants to stagnate, especially not during these difficult times.
With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be wise to assume that this might last several more months. You might also have to account for the risk of reinfection, which could potentially bring in a second pandemic.
It’s because of these possibilities that you need to make sure that you are preparing your team for online work, especially because one of the dangers that the pandemic poses lies not just in the virus itself, but also in the fact that the quarantines are taking a significant toll on the workforce.
