One major result of the COVID-19 pandemic is the rise in the number of employees working remotely. This represents a revolutionary transformation of the workplace. After all, before the advent of modern technology, the only option (and the pre-COVID norm) was for people to work together under one roof. Accordingly, management techniques have relied heavily on physical proximity and “face time.”
As more companies become location-independent by integrating remote working into their business models, managerial strategies need to change. If you are increasingly finding yourself having to manage remote employees, here are some helpful strategies.
1. Let Go of Face Time
One key feature of traditional management has been the reliance on face time as a performance indicator. During fixed hours of the day, people viewed in their office chairs are assumed to be working (whether or not they really are!). So if your team members are working remotely in their pajamas, how can you tell who is really working? And what if you have some employees in the office while others are working from home?
What is necessary here is a move to focusing more on management by objectives. This technique should be used for everyone, regardless of whether they are working remotely or in the office.
2. Treat Remote and In-Office Team Members Equally
A major component of successfully managing a team with remote and in-office workers is equal treatment. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of out-of-sight, out-of-mind when you can’t see some of your team members.
This strategy doesn’t just apply to teams with a mix of in-office and at-home workers; it also applies to any dispersed company. If you are not in the same room or on the same floor as everyone else you work with, you need to develop the mindset that everyone is a remote worker.
You may already be halfway there in this way of thinking. If you have to take an elevator between three or more floors or walk between buildings in the rain, you behave as if the other person is remote by typically using email or the phone instead of face time.
3. Adapt Traditional Management Techniques
All remote managers should actively use traditional management techniques such as regular one-on-one meetings, recognition for work done well, development of trust, delegation of authority, and regular reviews with no surprises. However, to manage today’s increasingly remote workforce, virtual connection and collaboration skills are essential to build solid relationships, drive accountability, manage projects, and deliver results.
The Benefits of Effective Remote Management
· Improved worker retention: Remote working options enable people to have more control over where and when they work best. This is widely acknowledged to increase employee engagement and satisfaction and reduce employee turnover. Moreover, people can continue to work for an organization even if they relocate, removing the need to fill vacant positions.
· A wider applicant pool: Remote work enables companies to hire the best person for the job, regardless of location. It also attracts qualified people who cannot or don’t choose to commute to an office - think a parent with young children, a caregiver with an aging parent, and individuals with disabilities.
· Emergency preparedness: If coworkers are situated in one physical office, then there is an organizational single-point-of-failure. However, teams can continue to operate in a virtual environment even if the company’s physical building is closed or if transportation is disrupted by strikes, snowstorms, earthquakes, or some other significant event.
The Future of Remote Management Is Here
Statistics about remote work show that before the pandemic, many people were working from home occasionally. The number of remote workers has continued to grow and has been greatly accelerated by COVID-19.
The reality faced by managers today is vastly different from that of previous generations. In today’s day and age, many organizations have dispersed teams that may extend across different cities, states, and countries. Remote working is here to stay, which means you need to develop expertise in remote management techniques.
Need Help to Develop Your Management Skills?
Shaping Development offers you Personal Development Coaching tailored to your unique needs. Let us help you shape the skills necessary to lead and manage in this new era of remote working. Contact us for more information!