The success of remote working
Remote working is growing in popularity. Many employers are considering introducing remote working policies within their organisation but are hesitant in doing so. I’ve already written about how flexible working options are not for every business, but if it is for you, then changes may be required.
Remote working may mean changing your company culture. Successfully implemented remote working initiatives have meant that companies seriously look at their culture and approach leadership and employee management differently.
What are the main keys for successful remote working?
It may seem obvious but the manager must clearly set out what is expected out of the remote worker. The manager must agree with the employee on goals.
Communication, as always, is key. The manager and employee should select communication tools which are most suited and effective for both, and for the job. A remote employee must be easily reachable. The timings during which s/he can be reached should also be clearly defined. A remote employee must also continue to feel part of the team and company.
The concept of remote working is based on productivity, results and outcome. You should not expect your employee to work from 8am to 5pm. One of the advantages of remote working is being flexible. As long as the result is achieved, then it is irrelevant at what time of the day the task was carried out.
However, employers may still wish to invest in a time and attendance software or use a time log. These may, in fact, help in understanding the time spent on tasks. It can also be an opportunity to understand whether employees are spending too much time on a task, or are simply over-working.
If you have a team who is working remotely, or at different locations, a project management software may also be viable. This will not only identify who is responsible for what, but employees may also log in the tasks they are doing. Such a software also helps in clearly defining the expectations mentioned earlier on.
If an employee is working exclusively remotely, then it is important that once in a while you ask him/her for a face-to-face meeting. Team meetings are also beneficial as it, not only helps in bringing them together, but also helps in encouraging them to brainstorm and think creatively together.
If you’re looking for more ways to implement flexible working options for your company, SurgeAdvisory can help you. Contact us on [email protected]
About the author
Maria Bartolo Zahra is Managing Director and HR Advisor at SurgeAdvisory. She has over fifteen years of human resources and business advisory experience.