With an ongoing global pandemic, almost all organizations had to switch to telecommuting overnight. From financial advisors to manufacturing entrepreneurs, remote working became the norm for a lot of professions.
Sure, working from home has a wide range of benefits. Employees are no longer required to commute long distances, while employers can reduce their operational costs. Telecommuting is also good for the environment.
That being said, uprooting employees from a professional setup and transitioning to remote working has its own challenges. Have you noticed a dip in employee productivity?
Fortunately, there are effective strategies to keep your remote workforce motivated. Take a look.
- Clear Communication is Key
Since you’re not in the same physical space, somethings can get lost in translation and lead to misunderstandings and errors. To ensure a smoother process, make sure you are equipped with tools like an online whiteboard for clear, fast, and effective communication.
Rather than bombarding your employees with emails every morning, use platforms like Slack or Google Hangouts for everyday communication.
- Talk One On One
Make an effort to have a one-on-one conversation with every employee on a regular basis. Genuinely ask them how they are doing and if they are facing any specific problems you can help with.
People are feeling isolated during this pandemic. An honest conversation can do wonders for boosting their morale.
- Supply The Right Tech
A high-speed internet connection and a dependable computer are few things that are essential for a productive home office setup. It is possible that your employees cannot afford to splurge on a new laptop during the current economic crises. It would be helpful to provide your employees with the right tech for their job.
- Plan Friday Happy Hour
Many people are living alone without much social interaction. Instead of keeping it strictly business, give your employees a chance to socialize by organizing a virtual happy hour on Fridays.
- Try Virtual Team Building Tools
Have you hired new employees recently? Because of the lack of in-person interaction, these employees may feel disconnected from your company culture. You should try virtual team building experiences to help employees gain a sense of belongingness and improve overall team performance.
- Avoid Micromanaging
Do you feel a lack of control because you’re not present in person to overlook projects? This feeling can make you micromanage tasks, which can hinder employee productivity. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to trust your employees and avoid micromanagement.
- Ask For Feedback
There is no one better than your employees to ask what will work best for them. Ask for their suggestions and feedback to improve your current processes and enhance productivity.
- Encourage Breaks
Just because employees are working from home doesn’t mean they have endless energy. Encourage employees to take reasonable breaks, especially a lunch break.
- Implement Usual Working Hours
Expanding on the previous point, don’t ask employees to work longer than their normal working hours or assign them additional tasks without any perks. Try to wrap up the day according to the usual working hours.
- Encourage Good Habits
Several people mess up their daily routine and sleep schedule once they start working from home. This can further hamper their productivity. Advice your employees to go to bed at a reasonable hour and maintain a routine.
- Offer Recognition
Just like under normal circumstances, you would recognize good performance, do the same for your remote team. Recognize achievements on team video calls, reward incentives, or send personalized congratulatory emails.
Final Words
These unprecedented times have been a struggle for many. It’s crucial to look after your employees to reduce absenteeism and lost productivity. Take this opportunity to show compassion to your workforce and offer them guidance.
