More and more companies are transitioning from office-based operations to remote operations, namely work-from-home setup. They have realized the arrangement’s many benefits, such as the reduction in overheads and employee satisfaction, knowing that team members won’t have to endure the stress of commuting. Employees also get to work in the most comfortable ways possible.
If you are one of the business heads who are planning to transition into this work mode, you know too well that the change is not going to be easy at first. There will be a learning curve, and it pays that you instill in your mind the key takeaways to improve the system for the long term. Below are some of the things you may want to keep in mind.
Start with a definite policy
Order is the first thing that you may want to implement when employing this work arrangement. And this is something that you can do by drawing up a remote work policy. This set of rules will define how employees will communicate, how deliverables and output are tracked, which software and applications to be used, and how attendance will be monitored. The policy that you will make will ensure that every member of the team is on the same page.
Invest in reliable tools
The efficiency and effectiveness of your new work arrangement will also heavily depend on the tools that you will use. First off, you need to have project management or collaboration application, which will allow you to track the progress of the project, your team members, and the number of resources used up. Your cloud storage software is also essential, knowing that employees need to access some files from time to time. Your choice of video conferencing software and IP PBX system will also help ensure that your meetings will be free of glitches. You are also supposed to issue communication allowances so that your employees can subscribe to the most reliable Internet services in their location.
Motivate your team members
For many of your employees, the work-from-home setup is a whole new territory. Acknowledge the fact that some employees will need more help than others when it comes to productivity. You need to encourage them and give recognition in case they have made progress. In this area, you may also want to instill the value of discipline, honesty, and transparency among your team members.
Improve, improve, improve
In the early stages of your new work policy, you will find mistakes, lapses, and shortcomings. Treat them as an opportunity to learn and improve your existing system. Encourage your employees to share best practices so that others will also be inspired to improve theirs.
On Strengthening Your Company Culture
Ultimately, you have the responsibility to build your corporate culture. In this regard, you need to make sure that everyone is still connected even when you’re not physically together. You always have the opportunity to hold virtual team-building activities and inspire your employees to stay social. Your employees should work as one big family for your company to grow.
