Since the coronavirus pandemic has kept everyone at home, it is more crucial than ever to learn how to manage your staff working from home. The key is to trust that your team will get their work done even when they’re not in your direct line of sight. This can be a difficult adjustment for some managers, but it’s important to remember that your employees are adults and they should be treated as such.
If you micromanage or try to control every aspect of their work, it will only lead to frustration and resentment.
Finally, make sure to give your team members the resources they need to be successful. This includes things like a quiet space to work, a reliable internet connection, and any software or tools they might need to do their job.
If you can’t provide these things, be honest with your team and work together to find solutions. By following these tips on how to manage your staff working from home, you’ll be well on your way to successfully managing your team until they are ready to come back to the office.
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Communicate Regularly and Clearly
If you manage staff who are working from home, it’s important to communicate regularly and clearly.
Here are some tips to help you do just that.
1. Schedule Regular Check-Ins
Whether it’s a daily check-in or a weekly team meeting, make sure you’re regularly checking in with your staff. This will help you stay on top of any issues or concerns they may have.
2. Set Clear Expectations
When your staff knows what is expected of them, they are more likely to meet (or exceed) those expectations. Be sure to communicate your expectations clearly from the start.
3. Provide Feedback
Both positive and negative feedback is important. If you only provide positive feedback, your staff may not know when they’re not meeting your expectations.
On the other hand, if you only provide negative feedback, your staff may become discouraged.
4. Be Available
If your staff has questions or concerns, they should feel comfortable coming to you. Make yourself available as much as possible.
Set Expectations and Goals
Setting goals is an essential part of how to manage your staff working from home. This will help keep everyone on track and ensure that everyone is productive.
Here are some tips for doing this.
- Make sure that everyone is clear on the goals and objectives of the project.
- Assign specific tasks to each team member and make sure they understand what is expected of them.
- Set deadlines for each task and make sure that everyone is aware of them.
- Keep communication open between you and your team members. Make sure that you are available to answer any questions or concerns they may have.
- Be flexible with your team members. If someone is having difficulty with a task, offer assistance or advice.
- Reward your team member for a job well done. This will help motivate them to continue working hard.
Trust Your Team
If you’re like most managers, you’re probably used to having your team working under your direct supervision.
But what happens when they’re suddenly working from home?
It can be tough to trust your team when they’re out of sight, but it’s important to remember that they’re still capable of doing great work.
With a few simple tips, you can help your team members stay productive and motivated while working from home.
Here are a few tips on how to manage your staff working from home.
1. Give Them Space
It’s important to remember that your team members are working from home, so they may need some extra space. If you’re used to working in close quarters, it might be tempting to drop by their homes unannounced.
But it’s important to respect their space and give them the privacy they need to work.
2. Trust Your Team
At the end of the day, you need to trust your team. If you’ve hired competent, capable employees, then trust that they’ll be able to do their jobs well, even when they’re working from home.
Trusting your team is essential to maintaining a successful remote workforce
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Encourage Breaks and Socialization
By ensuring that your employees take regular breaks, you can improve their focus and productivity.
In addition, socializing with colleagues can help to reduce stress and improve morale.
There are a few things you can do to encourage breaks and socialization among your staff.
1. Encourage Breaks
Make sure your employees take regular breaks throughout the day. This will help them to stay focused and productive.
3. Encourage Socialization
Encourage your employees to socialize with their colleagues. This can be done through informal chats, online socializing, or even virtual happy hours.
Be Flexible
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organizations to allow their employees to work from home. While this can be a great perk for some, it can also be a challenge for managers who are used to leading a team in person.
If you’re in charge of managing a remote team, there are a few things you can do to ensure everyone stays productive and on track.
First, be flexible with your team’s schedules. Everyone has different home situations, and some may need to adjust their hours to accommodate childcare or other obligations. As long as the work is getting done, there’s no need to micromanage when everyone is working.
Second, keep communication channels open. Make sure everyone has a way to reach you and vice versa. Whether it’s via email, instant messaging, or video conferencing, regular check-ins will help everyone stay on the same page.
Finally, trust your team. It can be tempting to try to control everything when you’re not in the same room as your employees, but it’s important to give them the freedom to work independently. If you’ve hired capable people, they’ll be able to handle their responsibilities even when you’re not looking over their shoulders.
Managing a remote team takes a little bit of adjustment, but it’s definitely doable with some planning and flexibility.
FAQs About How to Manage Your Staff Working From Home
How do you keep employees accountable when working from home?
- Create A Work From Home Policy.
- Set Clear Expectations.
- Establish Open Communication Lines.
- Follow Up Regularly.
- Measure Work Output.
- Use Productivity Monitoring Tools.
- Boost Employee Engagement.
- Create a Tip Sheet.
How do you manage a team working remotely?
- Set Boundaries with Remote Workers.
- Encourage and Embrace Diversity.
- Set Expectations Early and Clearly.
- Brush Up on Your Online Communication Skills.
- Give Them Help When They Need it.
- Invest in the Right Remote Project Management Software.
Conclusion
By following these tips on how to manage your staff working from home, you’ll be well on your way to successfully managing your remote team.
Remember to communicate regularly and clearly, set expectations and goals, trust your team, encourage breaks and socialization, and be flexible.
With these things in mind, you’ll be sure to keep your staff happy and productive even when they’re not in the office.
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Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and how we can help you reach your potential.