How to Create a Bulletproof Remote Working Strategy for Your Business In 2020
The idea of remote working is the way of the future facilitated by advances in technology. More companies are relying on remote workers, due to their benefits such as high productivity and low start-up costs. There are several reasons to hire a virtual assistant for your business in 2020, which can be a win-win strategy for both employers and employees. While an adequate infrastructure allows remote working, technology alone is not enough to succeed in a remote job without a proper plan. As a result, there are several ways in which you can create a bulletproof remove working strategy with a remote assistant.
Use the right tools
Your remote employees require access to the right tools to facilitate their remote working strategy. Such devices include accessing work resources by having the company information. Today, the computer and the internet alone is not enough to successfully work from home. Instead, collaborative communication tools such as live chat and video conferences are crucial for productive, while tools such as Virtual Private Networks are needed to ensure proper cybersecurity. Online collaboration is an essential aspect of remote working.
Focus more on transparency
Remote working is established on the principle of transparency in feedback, appreciation and being reachable. The remote employees should be able to reach the business at any time to facilitate to communicate and clarify things quickly and in real-time. As a result, you need to set up a system where they can get feedback at any time of the day. Having a video conferencing tool is one way of enhancing transparency between remote employees and the business.
Espouse a culture of flexibility
When establishing remote working strategies, consider enabling flexible working hours if feasible. Since not everyone is naturally productive at the same times of the day, remote employees should be allowed flexible schedules on when to work provided they deliver to the timeline. For example, the remote workers should be allowed to choose to work from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, or start at 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Remote workers do not operate in the same 9-to-5 workday boundaries, and therefore have to optimize their time.
Restructure your processes
In remote work environments, you will need to restructure your operations in terms of how to monitor your employees and enhance their productivity. Since you will not have employees visiting the office, you have to rewire everyday activities to ensure they are spending their time doing what is required of them. The business restructures crucial if you want to grow your business.
Encourage accountability among employees.
Remote working will not be successful unless a virtual assistant is held accountable for their conducts. When establishing remote working strategies for your business, clearly document the legal rights remote workers have, including a process for reporting hours and times when they can or cannot work. In essence, ensure that you provide remote staff with the same resources and assistance as in-office employees to create equal working opportunities.
Encourage the occasional physical presence.
While the perks of working remotely are high, never forget the value of meeting face to face and getting to know your employees. The physical presence encourages a sense of community among employees and motivates them to be productive. Plan time for collaboration and socializing with the remote employee once in a while, where they can communicate in a more relaxed setting. There should be guidelines for scheduling time, which will prevent remote workers from feeling isolated from time to time.
Review workplace policies
Remote working cannot be successful unless you review the policies to determine how employees will work remotely. The system should provide specific details about how individual employees can do their work remotely. It would help if you established clear rules about working remotely to ensure they are not destructed. While some remote employees can be productive working remotely, others tend to be prone to distractions at home. Therefore, you need to review the workplace policies and set clear expectations about communication protocols and working hours, among other things.
Conclusion
Remote working requires that you build a dependable culture that will connect your remote employees with the business. The first step is to set up a policy that will help them work remotely while remaining productive. At My Work Partner, we believe strongly in the benefits of a remote working program and assisting businesses to establish the best practices of working with virtual assistants.