Top Tips for Managing Your Teams Remotely

QContact shares lots of great advice for managing a team from a remote environment.

The UK Government are once again advising businesses to work from home where possible to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Some businesses have already made a fantastic transition to the ‘working from home’ model and have really reaped the rewards, which include happier staff and fewer overheads.

However, not every business has been able to make such a smooth transition so far, with some companies preferring to work from the office.

Let’s look at eight top tips to help your business make working from home work better for both your business and your employees.

1. Use Video Calls and Group Chats to Catch Up With Your Teams

Video conferencing technologies like Zoom allow us to have a daily catch-up with each department and many have found video to be more personal as you can see who’s smiling and who might need some extra TLC.

It’s also a great tool to share ideas and best practice within your business as you can upload files and easily share these with your colleagues.

2. Fill In and Share Your Diary

By keeping your diary up to date, it lets people know when you are unavailable and when you are around for support.

Therefore, you won’t be interrupted during busy periods, but your employees can add a catch-up during free periods for anything urgent or maybe some words of encouragement.

3. Set Clear Expectations and Goals for Your Employees

Make sure they have a clear understanding of what the day or the week ahead looks like and what the expected outcome should be.

Have measures in place and give regular updates or feedback. This can be done via a virtual weekly or bi-weekly 1-2-1 session.

4. Support and Coaching

Your employees need to know they are supported. It’s been a very turbulent six months since this pandemic took hold and people deal with things very differently. Be understanding and supportive.

Coaching your employees is a good way of keeping in regular contact with them, it feels less formal and gives you an opportunity to discuss anything that may be worrying them inside or outside of work.

5. Set the Tone for Your Employees

Are you happy for them to work in casual clothes? If so, as their leader, dress in casual clothes on meetings. This will help people feel more relaxed and at ease on video calls.

6. Don’t Make It All About Work

It’s easy to get caught up in work, work, work and whilst it is work, don’t forget to make it light-hearted or fun at times.

Just like in the office, those chats at the printer or at the coffee machine can turn someone’s day around.

Check in on people frequently to ask them how they are and let them know you care.

7. Have a Virtual Buddy

Pair up your more experienced employees to support your newer employees for general help and advice with systems, processes or day-to-day tasks that they may be finding difficult.

Buddy systems work great inside the office and work just as well virtually.