As we settle into 2023, the business world finds itself in a strange place. On the one hand, the pandemic has stopped being front-page news. But on the other hand, the trend of remote working is picking up steam like never before.
Some businesses are coping better than others. In today’s post, we want to share five simple tips you can follow to make your work-from-home employees more effective and efficient.
#1 Define Roles and Deadlines More Carefully
Sometimes, in an office or busy workplace, you can get away with having team members who “flow” from one task or department to another as needed. That’s much harder for them to do when working from home.
When possible, try to define roles, responsibilities, and deadlines more carefully than you have in the past. You can always change things going forward, but you want each team member to know what they should be working on during company time.
#2 Give Your Team the Tools They Need to Collaborate
It doesn’t take a lot to work from home, but some pieces of technology can make things easier. For example, updated tablets, webcams, and decent headsets with microphones can all impact productivity.
It can be painful to shell out for new equipment at a time when you’re seeing your employees less than ever before. Get it right, though, and your team will be even more productive than they were when they were physically together.
#3 Use Common Hubs for Project Management and File Sharing
This recommendation isn’t new, but it is something certain businesses are struggling with. Amazingly, there are teams with work-from-home employees who still rely on emails and flash drives to collaborate.
You can make things easier for everyone on your staff by investing in low-cost apps that allow for real-time collaboration and file sharing. Not only can the whole team stay on top of projects and deadlines, but they also share files, checklists, and more in real time.
#4 Leave Some Flexibility in Work Schedules
Even the most dedicated workers are going to face disruptions when working from home. Kids, pets, neighbors, and deliveries can all disrupt their workflow. So too can unexpected internet outages and other issues.
Rather than fight reality, try to build a little bit of flexibility into work schedules. Then your team can adapt and overcome as needed. They might also find that they prefer to work earlier or later in the day, which can help them stay motivated and get more done.
#5 Monitor the Results Over Time
As months roll by you’ll probably discover that certain people, and specific roles, are more affected by work-from-home arrangements than others. You may even discover you have to make some changes to policy, personnel, and locations.
All of this is part of the learning process. On the whole, businesses are discovering that work-from-home setups have been good for morale and the bottom line. Your challenge is to figure out if it’s working for you, and how to continue making it better for your company and your team.
Is Your IT Partner Helping Your Business Improve?
It’s not enough for your managed services vendor to keep email running and protect your business from hackers – your vendor should be helping you make your business more efficient, as well. If that’s the kind of service you want from an outsourced IT partner, then we can help.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more!