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Most companies allow for their employees to work from home at least some of the time. And a growing number of businesses now actively look for remote team members to bolster their existing staff. There are a number of benefits associated with working from home for professionals including greater autonomy and reduced transportation costs. Additionally, businesses value remote employment because it allows them to “cast a wide net” and attract the best talent in their field –– regardless of physical location. However, there is a problem with hiring staff members who almost exclusively work from home: day-to-day management. With that in mind, today we’ll provide four tips for individuals looking to improve their remote communication and overall office productivity:
Create a Mutually Acceptable Schedule
One of the simplest –– and most effective –– steps managers can take to get on the same page with employees working from home is to implement a mutually acceptable system for communication. While most professionals in the past worked the “standard” nine-to-five shift, the modern reality is much different. Some remote team members will be logged in for hours before anyone shows up at company headquarters. With that in mind, it’s crucial for business leaders to develop a schedule that works for remote workers and local team members.
Re-Read Everything You Send
No, managers don’t have to be worried about making a few typos or grammatical mistakes when conversing with remote employees over email or chat services. Yet, that doesn’t mean they should send written messages flippantly. It’s very easy to misconstrue the meaning and tone of a given message if it’s not written carefully –– particularly if the email offers any sort of criticism. Always take the time to review your emails with remote employees before you send them to avoid any potential miscommunications.
Define Company Roles
The more structure managers can introduce into a remote employment model, the better. It’s imperative that pros who work from home understand their place within the company, and know who they should collaborate with and when. After all, you wouldn’t want to compromise customer service because of a few internal misunderstandings.
Meet in Person (At Least Once)
The modern workplace is a very different place now than what it was twenty years ago. Still, though it may sound old-school, it’s almost always a good idea for coworkers to meet each other at least once to develop some kind of rapport. If it’s at all possible to touch base with a remote worker in person, then do so. You’d be amazed what a short, one-on-one conversation can help you accomplish!