In light of the current Covid19 Pandemic, many businesses are being forced to try new ways to operate to ensure business continuity, and in some cases, survival.

One such method being widely implemented is remote working (working from home). Some industries and businesses are better equipped to deal with remote working than others and many business owners, or employees in positions of management have had to adapt quickly to this new way of operating.

Here are some key tips to help effectively manage your teams remotely:

1. Communicate Regularly

Use multiple methods to communicate with your team – phone calls, Skype calls, Microsoft Teams, E-Mail, WhatsApp…. the list goes on. It can be easy for team members to feel isolated, but daily communication will help keep them integrated.

• Set Goals and Objectives

This helps to keep the team focused and allows them to be better prepared for success. Bear in mind, due to the ever-changing situation, these goals/objectives should be reviewed regularly, and any changes should be communicated to your team promptly.

• Trust Your Team

It’s common for businesses to be concerned about whether remote teams would be as productive as when they were office-based. However, with proper guidelines and policies (e.g. expected response times, which communication platforms to use and when, no calls between certain hours, etc.), there is no reason for productivity or quality of work to suffer.

• Provide the Right Tools

Ensure that your team is armed with all the necessary business tools needed to succeed. They need to be able to communicate and perform their main duties from home effectively. Tools could include laptops, printers, conferencing software, high-speed Internet access, data plans, etc.

• Focus on Goals, Not Activity

Concentrate on what the team is achieving and not their level of activity. Certain aspects of the team’s daily duties may be restricted (for example, client meetings/appointments), but if the team can continue to meet their goals, that is what is important. If not, then review the goals/objectives to ensure they are still realistic.

• Be Empathetic and Offer Support

Check-in with your team frequently and ask about their welfare and that of their family. Offer support to assist them in achieving goals, rather than checking on numbers and reports. Doing so will be reassuring to your team members and will help keep them motivated to succeed.

In this period of uncertainty and fear, it is more critical than ever before perhaps, that teams work together and offer support and guidance to each other. Those that do will be better placed for success and longevity. We are in this together.