Key Considerations When Managing A Remote Team
Ever since COVID-19, remote work has become the norm.
Most businesses have remote workers these days; whether this is fully remote, a hybrid work model, or using freelancers. Remote work benefits both the business and employees and could be key for keeping your staff happy, but you will also find that there are numerous challenges. It is important that you know how to overcome these challenges so that the business does not suffer and so that your employees can enjoy all the benefits of remote work.
This article will look at some key considerations when managing remote workers so that you can overcome the common challenges.
Scheduling
One of the most important considerations for managing remote workers is scheduling. It is important that everyone knows when people will be at their desk and when they will be away. Flexibility is an important part of remote work, but you do not want to be trying to contact a remote worker to find out that they are away from home. Therefore, you need to agree on a schedule and have a system in place so that people can notify everyone when they will be unavailable. In addition to this, you also need to make sure that you are always available for your remote workers when they need you.
Communication
Following on from this, communication can be a challenge when it comes to remote work. There are various tools that you can use to maintain close communication with your team, including videoconferencing software, instant messaging tools, and project management software. While it is important to maintain communication, you also need to avoid micromanaging staff and trust that they will get the work done. Keep in mind that every worker will have their own style and preference for communication, so you should try to cater to this and be flexible with how you stay in touch with staff throughout the day.
Employee Well-Being
Another important consideration is employee well-being. Remote work has its perks for employees, but it can be easy for staff to feel isolated and disconnected from colleagues. This can be a dangerous area because it can lead to mental health issues and disengagment from work activities. Therefore, you need to make employee well-being a priority. This can be achieved by checking in on a regular basis, holding regular social events both online and offline, and offering flexibility so that employees can get out of the house during the day. If you have any employees that are struggling, you should find ways to help them; whether this is providing mental health resources, increasing the amount of time spent socializing with co-workers, or encouraging them to take some time off.
Security
The rise of remote work in the last few years has had one serious side effect and this is a rise in cybercrime. With so many people now carrying out business tasks online, it creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are taking advantage of. This is why you need to take cybersecurity very seriously when managing a remote team. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in endpoint protection and response (EDR). Essentially, this protects any remote computing device and, in turn, the enterprise. EDR security is a layered approach to cybersecurity that allows you to monitor activity in real time and proactively identify threats. You want to invest in an advanced endpoint protection solution so that you can secure all endpoints and keep your important data safe while giving staff the confidence to carry out their role safely.
Remote work can benefit both the business and employees, but there are also unique challenges with this way of working. The above are a few of the key considerations for managers when it comes to remote work. Focusing on these areas should help you to manage these problems and establish remote work practices that will allow everyone to enjoy the benefits of remote work.
