Posted On 22 Jan 2022

Here are some recommendations on how to build up your business for success and keep employees motivated even when they work remotely.

Create a Digital Workspace
It might feel like working in a vacuum when individuals are not in an office setting. That’s when wasteful duplication of work occurs, critical issues slip through the gaps, clients aren’t addressed properly, and costly blunders arise. To combat this, you’ll need a digital workplace — i.e., a cloud software system — where individuals may “go” or log in each day. It allows users to interact, share their work, and see what their coworkers are up to.

Use off-the-shelf technology.
Even in a single site, homegrown software technology may be a pain to maintain and secure, but the dangers are amplified when individuals operate remotely. All of a sudden, you have a slew of employees connecting into systems from their own computers and phones, as well as shared Internet connections.
We’ve discovered that it’s preferable to delegate as many security concerns as possible to software providers. For systems like accounting, CRM, HR, and shared documents, cloud-based software is the way to go. Choose reputable providers who promote their built-in security features and stand behind their goods. Large, well-known companies are great since they have the means to keep your data safe and keep the software up to date.

Provide remote performance management training to managers.
Managers who are used to supervising performance in person may find it difficult to supervise workers they only encounter once a month (or less!). Assist managers in understanding the importance of managing results and production rather than focusing on the number of hours a person works.
More focus is placed on workers reporting on their job activities, as well as software solutions that track time and provide reports automatically. This might also entail establishing and measuring key performance indicators (i.e., key metrics) that are relevant to the individual’s employment. Some of this can be done with ease with good software, without needing a lot of manual work.

Define your personal and professional boundaries.
Just because someone works from home doesn’t give you permission to call them at any time of day or night. Set work hours and don’t expect individuals to be accessible outside of them. This is very important.
While employees desire some scheduling flexibility, such as the option to do a quick errand during the day or pick up the kids from school, commitment is a two-way street. Employees should keep track of their comp time and, if necessary, extend their schedules to make up for lost time during the day. If they aren’t feeling well, they should call in sick. They should take a vacation day instead of just disappearing for the day.

Keep in mind that productive workers have healthy bodies.
Last but not least, place a high priority on physical fitness. It’s all too easy for remote employees to become stuck in a rut where they go 20 steps to a computer and sit there all day.

It’s not enough to talk the talk; you have to walk the walk. Use a step counter to set a group challenge to walk 10,000 steps each day. Alternatively, have everyone up and walk around the room for one minute during a conference.