Managing business productivity with remote staff

The covid-19 pandemic shuttered workplaces nationwide and launched several firms and organisations into the remote working era. Society was plunged into an unplanned experiment in working from home. Prior to the pandemic, the work-from-home trend accelerated most in high-skilled white-collar jobs; rates among office and administrative professionals were much lower. However, the pandemic has led to a rise in remote work across several units of industries including administrative work.

Remote working is a form of location-based flexibility in which employees work from home or anywhere else other than the usual workspace where their employer is based. Remote working can be beneficial to both employees and organisations. Increased well-being, self-reported productivity and work satisfaction, less work-life conflict, new ways to interact, and more inclusive working practices through the use of technology are just a few advantages of remote and hybrid working for employees. At Ziroopay, we have a hybrid system that is beneficial to our team and many of them have expressed that not only do they appreciate this work style, but it has also increased their productivity.

Although remote working seems like the business revolution we all need, you can’t just switch to it and hope for the best. If not managed properly, remote work can have a downturn in your business productivity. So, what are those practical steps to manage your business productivity with remote staff? To get started, think about these important factors. These suggestions will position your organization for continuing effectiveness and achievement.

1. Create Effective Communication Within Your Remote Team: Check the team’s calendar for the number of meetings; are there too many or too few? Keep an eye out for those who frequently miss meetings or have a full schedule. Carrying out this communication audit will assist you in identifying any communication imbalances and problems that may be hurting your team’s communication.
2. Create Consistent Communication With Management: According to a survey by Google, employees believe that two of the most frequent causes of ineffective leadership are management’s reluctance to acknowledge employee accomplishments and its failure to provide clear instructions. Continuous communication aids managers in leading staff, celebrating staff accomplishments, resolving conflicts, and giving prompt feedback.
3. Address challenges unique to remote working: Many remote employees, especially those who work from home, are familiar with the difficulty of unplugging from work. Years ago, leaving the office and making the trip home was all it took to unplug. However, modern work trends have altered several concepts. So, in order to ensure work-life balance, you need to establish rigid hours. Every member of a team should have distinct working hours, and managers should encourage their team members to take breaks outside of these hours. For instance, supervisors should never place the burden for a critical issue on the employee who was unavailable during non-work hours but instead should collaborate to find a solution.
4. Examine Your Tools: The tools that your team members use at work have a significant impact on every area of your team, from management to cooperation. The kind of communication tools your organization employs greatly influences how closely your teammates collaborate. Last but not least, think about utilizing communication hubs that enable teams to centrally store all conversation data, such as Slack and MS Teams.