Challenges of working remotely during the Covid-19 epidemic
Lack of trust
A large number of managers do not believe in their ability to lead remotely, have a rather negative view of this way of working, and think that remote workers are less productive than when working at home. office. This lack of trust is a major threat to the successful management of remote employees.
Limited communication
Despite the many tools available to stay connected, communication remains a significant obstacle for remote managers.
In the office, interaction between people is accompanied by visual cues that help you understand the boundaries and communication preferences of others. However, you will not have this convenience when working from home. That's one of the biggest challenges of remote management, no matter the size of the team.
Monitor and track productivity
Keeping track of team members' productivity while working in the same office is easy. You just need to stand up and contact them to get updates on projects and assignments. However, remote management is a completely different situation.
When working from home, the sense of responsibility can start to slip. Some employees may work too much while others work less. As a result, many managers are trying to find ways to ensure that their teams stay efficient and productive.
As someone tasked with managing employees at home, burnout is a factor you also need to consider. Without establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time, it is easy for employees to feel that their workday is never-ending, leading to fatigue and frustration.
These challenges pose questions to managers such as how to keep employees enthusiastic about work, how to be more productive, and how to maintain discipline? Here are 6 work-from-home tips for managers to help employees stay productive.
“To lead a remote team well, managers may find that they need to loosen the reins a bit while finding ways to keep employees accountable.”
Clarify expectations and deadlines
Employees can't be successful if they don't understand your expectations, especially when working remotely. In addition, setting deadlines for each task is also very useful. Many people use generic words like “as soon as possible” but this is not recommended as it does not define any deadline.
Organized and flexible
When it comes to working with remote teams, the key is time flexibility. While specific planning is imperative, you should be ready to adjust your strategies as needed. It doesn't matter whether your employees choose to work in the morning or afternoon, as long as the work is completed and of high quality.
Work progress tracking
Ask employees to provide their work schedule, including specific tasks and expected completion dates. This will “allay” your fears about the employee’s productivity, and they will also have detailed instructions for performing the role. Remember, just because you can't see them at work, doesn't mean the job isn't done.
Emphasize communication
Effective communication is essential for employees to thrive in remote roles, especially if you want the team to run smoothly and efficiently. Simply put, it's the key to combating social isolation, distraction, and lack of direct supervision.
Consider the communication tools that best fit the team's culture. It could be email, text, phone, video chat, or an intranet channel. The best approach is to ask employees how they would like to be managed while working remotely. That way, you can capture information about what each employee needs to be most productive.
Build connections and be there when you need them
Many employees feel isolated and disoriented while working from home. That's why it's so important to build connections with employees. Share positive feedback, have a nice chat, or do whatever helps maintain a sense of normalcy to remind people that they don't have to work on a desert island.
Besides, you should also be regularly available on messaging applications to promptly help employees in emergencies they have never encountered before.
Resist the urge to micromanage
And while it's important for managers to be productive, too much supervision can leave employees working from home stressed and exhausted. If your employees are communicating clearly and meeting goals and deadlines, what's the point not to trust them?
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