It is pertinent to alleviate the concerns from both management and contributor level, which begins with employing the appropriate deputy software, setting realistic productivity KPIs, and increasing employee touch points. Here are some tips to help you.
Streamline Communication
Communication is likely going to be the most fragmented aspect of your operations -- that is unless you establish a process before sending everyone to a work-from-home set-up. That begins with choosing a universal, online platform where all business-related conversations are required to go. Choose one optimised for businesses of every scale as corporate messaging platforms offer functions that allow the administrative regulation of discussions. It will ensure data privacy and professionalism online.
Set expectations on what time staff members are required to answer calls, video meetings, and chats. A good starting point is to make sure that everyone’s notifications are on during business hours and encourage tagging (@name) for immediate concerns directed to an individual or group. Keeping a continuous flow of conversations and increasing employee touchpoints are also extremely important in these uncertain times.
Employ The Help Of Management Software
Accounting for attendance, performance, and task and announcement distribution can be a struggle. Even in the office, word-of-mouth delegation can result in missed tasks and a lack of accountability. Meanwhile, relying on emails can also be detrimental, especially since a critical announcement can get buried amid a flurry of queries and other work messages. That is why a good number of companies have employed platforms such as deputy software to mitigate these systematic issues.
Features such as employee scheduling and time and attendance trackers are crucial for payroll considerations, determining who is free to work on additional tasks, and optimising processes for time-consuming projects. A newsfeed will take care of announcements and other company or department-wide information dissemination, while a task manager allows you to distribute and keep track of tasks.
Most importantly, performance management tools will enable managers to review and evaluate individuals and send feedback when necessary. That way, all internal processes are accounted for regardless of where you work.
Shy Away From Micromanagement
Some industries, such as customer service and hospitality, may require micromanagement to keep operations afloat and in full productivity. However, workers that don’t depend on quantitative KPIs do not necessarily need monitoring by the minute. Giving employees a sense of freedom and independence will result in happiness and productivity. In contrast, research found that employees whose companies do not provide them with a sense of control are more stressed out and likened to a higher chance of death. As a result, fostering a sense of trust and responsibility despite working from different places may have long-term benefits on employees’ physical and mental health.
In case of emergencies, for some workers, the closing of non-essential establishments means that the workplace will have to migrate into the home temporarily. While working from the comfort of your space cuts down on travel time and socialisation costs, it entails an entirely new challenge for managers and business owners.
But working from home does not have to be stressful for managers and business owners. All it takes is the right approach to both managing employees and trusting them to do their job from anywhere in the world.
