With employees potentially working all over the world, it can at times feel frustrating and challenging trying to manage individuals and create a unified team. It is however, very possible to create a strong team that all work well together; you just need to take a few things into consideration.
Focus on Mental Wellbeing
Working from home remotely can be very stressful. There is no office to go to, no time off if you are not careful, nobody to share work stories or experiences with, and there is nowhere to go if you are having issues. Remote employees often have to be a bit more resourceful and self-sufficient than those who work in a physical office. If you can, you need to ensure that team members are well rested and not overworked. Introduce weekly mindset and wellbeing meetings to ensure that your workforce can discuss any issues or problems they may be having so that you can resolve them quickly and calmly before they escalate.
Remember Different Time zones and Working Hours
Not all of your employees will be able to attend meetings when you like, and this is down to them potentially working in different time zones. You have to be considerate of those employees working in a different time zone, and you have to offer support and advice as and when you can. Always ensure that you send a copy, video, or report of all meetings held so that absent employees who were unable to attend canleave their feedback just as readily as they would have done should they have been present at the meeting when it was held.
Encourage Learning and Development
Just because employees are remote, that doesn’t mean that you should not offer them training, learning, and development when you can. From mba online programs to advance their careers within your company to short courses that focus on mental health and wellbeing, it is important that you see and encourage lifelong learning. Team members will benefit from the extra knowledge and information provided, and if they feel they are constantly receiving relevant training and development, they are more likely to stay with your company.
Show Empathy
It can be challenging working from home, especially if you have family around or you have no designated office or workspace to work in. You need to show empathy for those team members who are just trying to get everything together and orderly. Empathy costs nothing and it could just make the difference between a healthy and happy team member and one that is feeling low and demotivated. Show empathy to those working from home and show them they are valued and appreciated and that they are not just cogs going through the motions day in and day out.
Have Daily Check Ins
Just because people are working remotely, it doesn’t mean that you have to be disconnected. Organize daily check in’s (once a day is fine) to ensure that the team member is happy with their day. Checking in any more than this can seem overbearing, and any less could portray that you don’t get on, so strike a balance early on and maintain it as well as you can.Check-ins do not have to be lengthy; just a few minutes a day could improve how your employees feel and how effective they are within the workplace. The importance of check-ins should not be underestimated as they can boost morale and confidence.
Work on Your Communication Skills
Effective communication at all levels is essential to ensure that team members are happy, content, motivated and enthusiastic all at the same time. Working on good, open, and honest communication will ensure that team members come to you when they are in need or require help or assistance. Being approachable, easy to talk to, and non-biased will ensure that you can effectivelycommunicate with all team members no matter what time of day, or for what reason.
Foster and Embrace Diversity
Diversity is what makes the team unique and great to work with. If everyone had the same skill set, you would not have a very successful team on your hands. So, embrace diversity within your team, appreciate it, and celebrate it as and where you can. Take time out of your day or your week to embrace the diversity and wide-ranging skill sets of the workforce. Encourage team members to support each other and to embrace diversity, and you will find that virtual meetings are healthy and harmonious.
