The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and work. These changes are likely to last for some time, and for some businesses the transition to remote working may be a permanent one.
Working from home can have many benefits for both employees and employers, from savings on commercial rent to better flexibility in work.
Keeping your workforce focussed and engaged is key to having a positive experience of home working. Here are a few ways you can show your staff you care and help them stay productive and happy.
Make The Best Use Of Technology
This one is hugely important for a thriving remote working environment. There are countless options out there, but you need to do your research and choose the best for your company’s needs. You likely used many of the available technologies before the coronavirus started disrupting our lives, but you must be innovative with what you use and open to new ideas.
You can also ask your team’s opinions on different software for meetings, phone calls and working. This will help them to feel included and valued in the decision making process and will provide you with valuable feedback to help you choose the best for your business.
Have A Remote Speaker
Having a remote speaker is a great way to keep your staff engaged. The topic can be whatever you think will most benefit them, but it can be a great way to bring the team together and promote team building, communication, motivate them for the year ahead or even give them practical tips to deal with stress, anxiety or loneliness as the pandemic continues to hold our attention.
For a fantastic range of speakers, you should check out Speakers Corner. You will find a wide range of professional speakers that cover a great variety of topics with Speakers’ Corner. This can be a great way to get your workers engaged and provide education or motivation.
Have A Weekly Check In
Having a remote video call each week with your staff can help keep them in the work mindset. It can also be a great way to stay connected and up to date on your staff’s lives. These can be about work but could also have a social element, like discussing plans for the weekend.
You could go one step further here and organise an employee virtual meet up for after work. This could be anything from a quiz to a general hang out, but it will really help to keep morale up and keep your workers connected.
Have Clear Goals For Each Employee
This one is a standard for any business, whether working remotely or not. When working remotely, it is more important than ever to ensure that you have clear goals for each member of your team to keep them motivated and working well. It would be best if you discussed with your workers what their goals will be and take into account their thoughts and feelings. Remember that this is a difficult time for all of us, so you will need to be even more empathetic and flexible than usual.