Team Building. Communication is key when employees work from home. googletag.cmd.push(function() { Improve the overall communication with your teams to encourage conversation and collaboration. 5: Buy a printer: A printer is an essential part of any office set up, whether you’re at HQ or working remotely. For example, in our call centre we look at response times, number of calls taken and customer feedback, and ensure they’re in-line with normal working days. Practically speaking, you can’t expect your employees to be motivated and engaged round the clock. Foster collaboration within the team According to Weekdone.com, 39 percent of employees don't feel that their input is appreciated. Top tips to motivate yourself and team working from home 1: Set up file sharing tools: We use things like Dropbox and Office 365. There are a number of factors that deem remote work a challenge. People still want to do the work. }); We interview Genevieve Glover, Group HR Director - Barchester Healthcare. If managers want their teams to succeed, they will need to master the art of motivating and engaging employees all from home. Five ways to help teams beat the January blues. And cover topics including: Trends for 2021, The Skills Gap, Virtual Collaboration & Rise of Employee Autonomy. Richmond, VA 23230, Copyright 2021 Answer 1, LLC. A flexible schedule is an advantage for remote employees, but if you need your workforce... Stay connected and communicate. For example, receiving incomplete work from an employee you noticed was sick can encourage you to be lenient due to their condition. All rights reserved. How to keep your business operational with employees working from home. 4 Untapped Customer Service Tips To Encourage Return Customers, How To Deal With Angry Customers—Turning a Negative Experience Into a Positive, How Much Does An Answering Service Cost? Instead, you should make sure employees are engaged in weekly one-on-one meetings to maintain healthy work relationships. You may find idleness is at an all-time... 2. Equipping teams with these new technologies allows managers and employees all stay on the same page no matter where they are working from, whether it’s from home or waiting in a long line at the grocery store. Facetime and Whatsapp are equally as good if you only have a phone. If entrepreneurs and managers want their companies and teams to succeed, they must learn to motivate and engage employees at a distance. One of the biggest advantages of employing work-from-home solutions is the flexible schedule it offers your employees. Looking like a team can make employees feel and act more like a team, enhancing their motivation to “win” at work. Even before COVOID-19 forced more people to work from home, there was already a surge in working from home. So continue to ensure team leaders talk to staff every day. Make sure weekly meetings happen. Best Practices for Managing a Remote Workforce Set clear expectations. Also, bear in mind that no-one does a full eight hours when they work in the office. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Just because a part of your workforce might work from home, that doesn't mean they aren't a part of the team. At the same time, some employees can easily feel distant and unmotivated when they are in an isolated environment. So continue to ensure team leaders talk to staff every day. So, instead of setting expectations based on hours in front of a screen, set expectations based on the quality of their outputs. Improve Your Internal Communications Strategy. Erik Lack. Automated Answering Service VS Virtual Receptionist: Which Is Right for Your Business? Good team members will always try to do their best and they’ll feel guilty if you place too many demands when they’re also juggling with childcare or sick partners. Ensure you platform supports the basics of all work collaboration such as email and direct messaging tools so employees can download, share and access files easily. Through video calls, you can gauge whether your employee is eager to be productive or simply uninspired. Provide clear direction on what needs to be done on a regular basis and enable a healthy work-life balance. Encourage your staff to get creative with their home workspace and make it their own (it is in their house, after all). Regular performance reviews in your video meetings can help employees see where they’re going wrong and how they can fix it. It may sound like a strange thing to do, but showing your team that you care about them and about their mental health, in particular, is crucial to their motivation.Your staff will be much more likely to feel motivated and be productive when they know they are working for someone who takes notice of what is going on, someone who is … If you’re using a laptop, invest in a good quality keyboard and mouse as they will help maintain a good posture and prevent repetitive stress injuries. ARTICLE BY: Viola Lloyd | Published: 18 January 2017. var googletag = googletag || {}; With high-quality, user-friendly tools like Zoom and Slack on the market, project managers can easily support online collaboration in inexpensive ways. A schedule also helps the people around you understand when it’s ‘work time’, so they won’t distract you with the little household chore requests. 1: Set up file sharing tools: We use things like Dropbox and Office 365. If you don’t have them, now’s the time to get them sorted. Outline the problem and what success looks like (i.e. One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated is to create a schedule so you know exactly what time you’re starting work and what tasks need to be completed. We’re proud of the strong relationships we maintain with our clients. When employees are out of the office, they are psychologically disconnected from each other. Good communication enables all the information about projects, tasks, and procedures to be available to the team members. Successful remote working is all about having good habits and tools in place. That said, don’t lay it on too thick. Without an adequate work environment that can block out distractions, there are higher chances that your employee will be multitasking between work and home responsibilities. You can also coordinate small group meetings in which employees can collaborate on … written by Tetiana. For example, in our call centre we look at response times, number of calls taken and customer feedback, and ensure they’re in-line with normal working days. 4: Invest in good quality office consumables: If you’re using a laptop, invest in a good quality keyboard and mouse as they will help maintain a good posture and prevent repetitive stress injuries. One of the most common complaints of remote work is the loneliness employees feel outside the collaborative work environment where they interact and socialize with peers all the time. One of … Adopt a culture of continuous feedback for your employees to work on … So, instead of setting expectations based on hours in front of a screen, set expectations based on the quality of their outputs. However, … Frequent check-ins with remote workers and offering help whenever they might need it can enable your workforce to be more productive – and more connected. Receive more HR related news and content with our monthly Enewsletter (Ebrief). googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; Deadlines and commitments aren't always enough motivation.Still, employees who work from home continue to report loving their jobs more than those in their cubicle.Leadership IQ provides an online test that gathers data regarding an empl… They just need to know what’s expected of them and the core hours they are expected to work. Create a third place. If you don’t have them, now’s the time to get them sorted. Managers should expect, if not prepare for these circumstances, especially in hasty work-from-home transitions. Just because you can’t see staff working, it doesn’t mean they’re not. Steps like these help relationships grow on a personal level so you can better identify pain points and work to improve your employee’s happiness. Start your day right They’re constantly distracted. Moreover, project managers can effectively transmit positive energy and motivation through video calls. 01454 292 069   recruit@thehrdirector.com, UK Subscriber Assistance T 01454 292 060 subs@thehrdirector.com. … While many of us are used to swanky offices in tony districts of our cities and whether we are ready or not, COVID-19 has … Working from home requires a lot of discipline and comes with its perks. And while you’re navigating the world of working from home, complete with tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, you’re forgetting one very important thing: Remote working is lonely, and it can affect your sales teams’ motivation. Working at home can be boring and lonely so make 2: Use collaboration tools: Google Docs is great for helping your team work together in real time. However, with traditional work spaces out of use, project managers are wondering how they can motivate employees under the strain of limited physical interactions – and how can they sustain these practices? }); Publication As I just mentioned, working from home allows you to schedule activities during your workday that you wouldn't normally be able to do in a traditional office. They just lack the screen sharing options of Google Hangouts, which is really important. It meant we could chat as we worked on a project together. I also make sure I get the little nagging jobs, like emptying the dishwasher, done before I start, so I don’t use them as a distraction. googletag.defineSlot('/21798641100/ArticleAd', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1553701159481-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Hear what they have to say about how working with Nexa Receptionists has helped their business. For you and your employees to thrive in your new work environment, project managers should express gratitude towards employees to immerse themselves fully in their work and support the company’s plans. This is an obvious challenge, especially when the team isn’t together. Ways to ensure your remote employees are not drifting when working from home. That, in turn, makes it easy for people to complete tasks. Set a schedule.. Whilst no one is expecting every employee to start at 9am on the dot each day, it is important to set... Share good news.. We’ve all been in the position where we have got ourselves bogged down in the news headlines. Work on trust: Just because you can’t see staff working, it doesn’t mean they’re not. Employers that take the initiative, and ask their staff if they have the skills they … The Hidden Costs Of Hiring – How Much Does An Employee Cost In 2020. How the right reward can be a great morale booster, Workplace mental Health requires board level accountability, TALENT INTELLIGENCE IN A COMPETITIVE WORLD – Roundtable Report, 139 employers named and shamed for failing to pay minimum wage, One Bright Idea to Help Charities Recover from the Annus Horribilis of 2020. Keeping... 3. If your team requires frequent department meetings, consider holding regular conference calls so you can employees on the same page. I haven’t seen a lot of resources focused on how creative teams stay motivated while working remotely. It has even been reported that remote employees are more productive, at a rate of 1.4 more days of work per month, by Business News Daily. To help you with managing this remote way of operating, we have put together these seven top tips on remaining motivated when working from home. Ian Cowley, Managing Director - Cartridge Save. Our tips will help you ensure you and your team are aligned with organizational goals, so you can maximize productivity to unprecedented levels. Experience the Nexa Receptionists difference. 01454 292 063   advertise@thehrdirector.com, Recruitment They just lack the screen sharing options of Google Hangouts, which is really important. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { take the time out to let them know they’ve done a good job. The latter is brilliant for helping Accounts share large spreadsheets. On the other hand, you can set tight deadlines for employees that tend to procrastinate and encourage them to work at a consistent pace. Facetime and Whatsapp are equally as good if you only have a phone. Work-from-home, however, is not an automatic panacea. A few months ago, 2020 was predicted to be the “year of remote work.” But even the most optimistic telecommuting advocates never anticipated the launch of the world’s largest work-from-home experiment before the end of the first quarter. For a few years, my business partner and I worked remotely from one another but often had Google Hangouts running in the background. They just need to know what’s expected of them and the core hours they are expected to work. Managerial teams struggle with such barriers to communication and sometimes, this can lead to employees thinking that managers are neither supportive nor helpful towards facilitating their work. 3. Explore the challenges people face in working from home (and they will differ) and ideas for dealing with them or sharing personal practices that work… Top 6 Ways To Motivate Employees Working From Home 1. googletag.defineSlot('/21798641100/Sidebar1', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1552319515893-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); They’re constantly distracted. 01454 292063   advertise@thehrdirector.com, Online Encourage teams to get matching t-shirts printed with their department names, their last names, and maybe numbers if you really want to play up the athletic team theme. }); Tackling unhappiness at work Employees who work from home rather than the office have the opportunity to achieve a better work-life balance. Build a visual scoreboard to promote team collaboration and share their progress. Good team members will always try to do their best and they’ll feel guilty if you place too many demands when they’re also juggling with childcare or sick partners. Setting remote work solutions in place, places added responsibility on team... 3. Managers should make an effort to include remote workers , … Encourage the … Communicate with employees over video call rather than voice call, which allows for more body language. Recognition programs can also help to acknowledge your hard work and build employee morale. Access important resources and get answers to our most frequently asked questions. There’s the office, there’s home and then there’s the virtual third place. | Terms and Conditions, How to Motivate Employees Working From Home, 5 High-Performing Companies That Outsource Staffing (& What You Can Learn From Them). Accordingly, the more emails someone is sending and receiving, the busier they likely are. However, you will probably call it a lack of professionalism if the same occurred with a remote employee. Be considerate. “We want to increase revenue X%”). Also, I also recommend setting clear expectations based on ‘what would I have done in the office?’. googletag.enableServices(); var googletag = googletag || {}; Employers obviously want to foster a sense of community and inspire spikes in productivity. Instead of giving solutions, ask questions. That said, don’t lay it on too thick. However, it is also easy to pick up bad habits along the way. 3 Essential Tips for Motivating Your Team: Work From Home Edition You’re probably already well aware that your staff are the lifeblood of your business. In the long run, this can sever the employee’s connection to your organization to wither as they feel ostracized – and this can result in them leaving your company. To keep your team motivated, you need to get out of your own way. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); | Sitemap As the world of work continues to evolve, the number of remote staff are on the rise. Incurring technical problems within your platform can hinder workforce productivity, which is why employing reliable technology is so important. At the top of our employee motivation ideas is an effective... 2. The nation’s leading 24/7 virtual receptionist team is ready to help grow your business. Building and creating a virtual community – especially if you’re new to the process – has never been easier. However, if your business relies on steady work hours, you need to specify how and when you need employees to come online. Managing your now remote workforce will require the same approach as the one you take in your traditional office environment. When we renovated our home I installed a standing desk, so I feel like I’m ready to go! Phoenix HQ2001 W. Camelback Rd. A printer is an essential part of any office set up, whether you’re at HQ or working remotely. If your business is new to working from home, you can expect a decline in productivity from top performers who are still getting used to their new environment. LID Publishing talks to author Bill Cohen about his latest book on Peter Drucker’s consulting principles. How to motivate a remote team. Try this: Get branded swag for your next company event. That figure would come out to roughly 3.4% of the population. Here are a few words of encouragement; you can use to improve your company’s employee-manager communication: Unmotivated employees can hinder the productivity of others in their team as well. So it was like being in the same office space. Setting clear expectations is the first thing you need to do if you want to ensure high engagement among your employees who are working from home. To reap the benefits of a motivated workforce, you will need to think beyond short term goals and implement these strategies for long run gains. If employees are late or frequently absent, hold them accountable for it. Cultivating Motivation & Engagement For Our Employees That Work From Home Keep in mind: Your employees will never be as motivated as you are or have the same vision you have. What people often find is that something that would normally take them two days, will take them two hours at home, because they are given the space to focus. However, you need to implement changes in the tools and strategies you use, so you can keep up with the challenges of work-from-home solutions. You can get a great model for around £60 that won’t cost a fortune to run and that has Wi-Fi connectivity. Edits can be made on live documents, saving you from continually making draft copies, which could lead to error or something important being missed. While having the ability to work from outside of a corporate office has been feasible for a few decades, working remotely is only now becoming mai Check in with employees to ensure they’re sticking to schedules and that they are aligned through common goals. In response to the lock downs and social distancing protocol, 88% of companies have encouraged their employees to work from home. If your idea of working from home consists of sitting in bed or in front of the television with your laptop, it is unlikely that you will be very productive. Trust and open communication are necessary for establishing collaborative work relationships. Listen carefully to the response you receive: great leaders acknowledge the stress that employees go through and inspire confidence in their workers to strive forward. Video Calls Instead Of Phone Calls. They work diligently and consistently towards your collective success, they’re there to help you brainstorm new ideas, and get you through those dreaded creative slumps. In this article, we’re going to show you how to motivate your sales reps while they’re working from home. I’d recommend a. with a scanner and a small footprint so it doesn’t take up too much space. We use things like Dropbox and Office 365. If you want to measu… More often, many situations involving work from home lack the context needed to fully understand the situation which may hinder effective communication.