Managing Remote Workforces with Strong Leaders

Along with the many changes that COVID-19 has brought into our lives, the way that we live and work has most likely been forever altered.

To increase safety, reduce risks and adhere to government regulations, many companies have shifted most of their work venues from the physical office to their workers' homes. Some have set up a hybrid model, where employees rotate and work part of the time at the office and part of the time at home.

Initially, this was viewed as a temporary solution that would continue only during the time of the pandemic. However, more and more, many leaders are seeing the cost savings that having a remote work staff can bring. Thus, they are viewing having employees work from home as a permanent measure.

Work From Home

Working from home doesn’t mean training or development should stop.

Distance: real and perceived 

As I help people, both individual contributors and managers, acclimate to the new reality of working remotely, I am reminded of the three ways people can see distance between employees even on the same team. The current experience we are all sharing in working remotely and trying to conduct business as usual in unusual circumstances will make many pause and reflect on what it means to be ‘distant’ from our team, our organization, and our closest work allies and friends. 

Tips from Your Corporate Training Company

Setting Up Teams for Remote Work Success

Offering a remote work environment essentially means people don’t have to commute into an office and work to achieve their organizational goals from a designated desk or space in that office.

CORPORATE TRAINING FOR REMOTE WORKFORCE SUCCESS

TIPS FROM YOUR CORPORATE TRAINING COMPANY

Remote working is an increasingly popular way for companies to do business with 43% of U.S. employees working remotely in some capacity.²  

Advances in technology make remote work more efficient – this includes mobile devices that allow you to do more from anywhere, and cloud services such as video, document sharing software and collaboration tools that improve productivity. 

Plus, with the winter season soon approaching more employees will be requesting to work from home as the weather conditions make driving into the office a long and arduous task.

So, with all these reasons to allow for remote working for great efficiency from your teams why do leaders continue to fail when it comes to effectively managing.

Management Tips for a Remote Workforce

With the two big holiday celebrations this week – the Fourth of July in the U.S. and Canada Day in the north – the summer season is officially here!

This is the time of year when more employees take advantage of their company’s remote work options. It gives them the flexibility to participate in family activities, spend more time in front of the computer and less behind the wheel, while improving productivity and work-life balance.

Managing a remote workforce can be different than managing onsite employees. Learning Leaders can assist department managers who may not have experience with this management style by sharing these seven tips for a successful remote work environment.

REMOTE WORK TIPS FROM YOUR TRAINING COMPANY

Summer is just around the corner, bringing changes to most employees’ regular schedules.

School is out, and some folks will have to deal with daycare and arrange to get their kids to camp, sports and other activities. Some organizations implement summer hours in which employees work extra hours Monday to Thursday with a shortened lunch and get a half-day or full day off on Friday. Summer is also “construction season” which means much longer commute times for many.

TOP TRAINING COMPANY TIPS ON FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKPLACES

Having children is one of the biggest decisions anyone will make – it impacts every aspect of your life, including your career. While people try to achieve work-life balance, it's certainly not easy. One study found that roughly half of all parents, both men and women, take a job for less money at a more family friendly employer.¹

With the high cost of hiring and turnover, creating a family friendly workplace can help your bottom line by attracting and retaining good employees. Here are three ways to make your work environment more family friendly.

REMOTE WORK TRAINING TIPS FOR MANAGERS FROM YOUR TRAINING COMPANY

According to the Gallup State of the American Workplace report, the number of employees working remotely in some capacity is increasing, and so is the amount of time they are working off-site, away from their managers and colleagues.

The report data states that in 2016, 43% of employees were working off-site, up from 39% in 2012. In addition, the number of employees who spent 80% or more of their time doing remote work was 24% in 2012, and increased to 31% in 2016.¹