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Managing Your Team from Home

  • Publish Date: Posted almost 4 years ago
  • Author:by Erin Smyth

Are you managing your team from home? Our consultants have put together our best practices for being efficient and effective in order to manage your team remotely. Here are our top tips:

  • Avoid Multi-Tasking

Try to avoid multi-tasking and use online video tools to maximise communication. This should help remote teams stay in ‘work mode’ and perform at their best. It’s also wise to avoid long email trails, as this can impact upon output.

  • Be Available

Be available during working hours for remote employees, regardless of time zones. Ensure all team members, whether on-site or remote, can interact through platforms such as Workplace and MS Teams. Remote employees should always be able to talk to their manager, no matter where they work.

  • Build Trust

Managers build trust by treating each team member as an individual, keeping their promises and articulating themselves effectively. Listen to your remote workers and check in with them regularly, without micromanaging.

  • Engage Regularly

Be sure to engage with your remote workers regularly and schedule one to ones, which can be done online or via phone. This helps remote team members to integrate and feel included in the significant operations of the business.

  • Follow the ‘PPP’ format

Begin each day by asking employees to give everyone a summary (verbal or written) following the ‘PPP’ format. Firstly, give an update on your progress; what you have finished, where you are up to with other things. Then let everyone know your priorities; what you are working on right now, what urgently needs to be done. Lastly, express any problems you may have; what do you need help with in order to progress further or work more efficiently. This format allows everyone to be heard within the team, ensuring that everyone is on the same page, and can help where possible to make for a more productive team.

  • Establish Close Bonds, Help and Support

Empathize, support and take interest in the lives of your remote workers. This strengthens personal bonds and builds solid working relationships. Dedicate the first few minutes of your check-ins for casual talk, as remote workers can often miss out on the natural conversations that take place within the office.

  • Have Belief in Your Team

Trust your team to do their jobs even if you can’t physically see them. Try to create work from home guidelines which establish communication rules and schedules, which takes away any potential for micromanagement.

  • Schedule Video-Based Communication

With virtual employees, it's crucial to schedule time to communicate effectively. Rather than talking over the phone, try to use video-based communication tools so you can see each other. This will allow you to respond to body language and facial expressions.

  • Set Clear Expectations

Clear expectations are crucial to business output. Ensure parameters, deadlines, tasks and metrics are understood by remote workers, so they are aware of what they need to do. The more prepared they are, the more efficient they will be.

Become recruitment consultants are experienced in advising clients and candidates in best practices when it comes to working remotely. We hope you find these tips helpful in managing your team effectively. If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our friendly consultants today.

About Become

Become Recruitment is a specialist digital and creative talent agency, covering both permanent and freelance recruitment respectively. Established for 23 years with offices in Manchester, Sydney and Melbourne and Auckland, they work with some of the world’s top branding, design and advertising agencies, as well as corporate marketing teams.