In the age of digital business, it's easier than ever to give staff a greater degree of freedom.
Thanks to faster and more reliable internet, a bevvy of capable mobile devices, and powerful communications software, staff are able to work from nearly any location. As a result of removing staff from the office environment, companies can then take out smaller office spaces and reduce operating costs. What's more, any training can be scheduled remotely.
In this new age of remote working, however, it's important that you understand the best ways to manage staff working from home or on the road. Here are three tips.
1) Keep the lines of communication open
Having staff work remotely means you'll be unable to walk over and ask them a question or pass along a comment, so it pays to put strong communication practices in place. A voice over internet tool should be required for all members of the team, along with an instant messaging client that allows quick and easy conversation.
2) Take advantage of the cloud
Ignoring the buzzword status, cloud technologies offer real benefits over more traditional alternatives. How so? Well, you're able to set up a central location online for all business files, so staff can log in and access documents without needing to use email.
3) Adopt a digital culture
Culture is a pain point for many companies – and it needs to be even more of a focus when remote workers are involved. It can be hard to maintain a culture even when all staff are in the same building, so extra work is required to keep everyone engaged.
Try weekly video conferences to get everyone on the same page, or perhaps company outings after work to get staff interacting in person. For workers in other parts of the country, occasional in-person visits could prove useful.
To learn more about taking your business into the 21st Century, with a variety of proven frameworks for staff, it pays to speak to the experts. Get in touch with ALC Training today.