5 tips for managing a home working team
3 mins
22 Oct 2024
Right now, remote working – or working from home - is a hot topic. The rise of the remote workforce is by no means a new trend; in fact, the number of remote workers has been increasing for years. But with the global pandemic having pushed teams out of the office, successfully managing employees remotely is now a key business skill for companies the world over.
Whilst many companies have long since embraced the flexibility of remote working, many are finding themselves suddenly managing remote employees for the first time and this shift of daily routine poses unique and unanticipated challenges.
So, how do you set yourself – and your team – up for success?
Best practices for managing a remote team
When it comes to managing a remote team, we think it comes down to a combination of great leadership and the right tools. Part of being a good leader is ensuring staff can work on their own initiative and this is particularly true when it comes to home working.
Whether you’re a small team or a huge corporation, the right set-up will help your business (and its people) reap the benefits of working so flexibly. That’s why helping your team figure out what they need is key. Making sure they have the technology at home helps them do a great job.
Managing your remote team with ease
In a remote setting, keeping your team connected is crucial. Whilst email or text may be a short-term solution, there are more effective tools better suited to collaboration and communication. Tools like VPN, web conferencing, online file sharing and instant messaging can be the difference between a happy, productive team and a frustrated, checked out one. Few things are more demotivating than playing email ping-pong or waiting for systems to unfreeze.
Whatever the software or device you run, don’t forget to keep on top of your cyber security. Keeping your home working technology up to date is essential to avoid attacks from opportunistic hackers.
Make communication and collaboration simple
Whilst technology can help your team perform at its best, it’s important to remember that it can’t replace good, old fashioned communication. Regardless of the size of your business, you need the right approach and attitude to create a great working-from-home culture.
To help you navigate today’s flexible workplace, we’ve created a list of 5 easy ways to help your team embrace home working - if they haven't already.
From building better communication to avoiding micro-managing, our tips will help you and your team be productive regardless of where you work.
How to become a flexible, remote business
The workplace is changing – even before the pandemic over a million people were already working from home. For almost every business this shift into remote work means a new strategy and the right technology are needed; not easy when you’re already busy running the business.
So, if you’re looking to improve your remote working set up, why not contact us? We’re experts in safe and secure technology for remote teams, and we can support you whether you’re in the office or working from your sofa.
