Struggling to Stay Connected Working From Home?
As the world becomes more connected, people are working remotely for a variety of reasons. One reason is that they want to take care of their family and make sure they're around when needed; another might be due flexibility which allows them greater freedom over where they work each day--whether this means being able establish home base at your desk or traveling frequently with no fixed schedule (and plenty left over).
This shift in how teams interact has caused strain on institutions across the US as leaders find themselves having new conversations about managing distributed teams effectively - but what does all these really mean?
Some of the challenges that remote and hybrid teams face include learning new best practices, such as proper time management; balancing work-life balance with family or other obligations all without compromising on cost efficiency! Additionally there's been research which indicates managers need to take certain steps when trying empower these working groups: providing clear guidelines for group projects/deadlines etc., making sure everyone knows what is expected out of themselves, etc.
What are some of the top challenges when managing a remote team? And how do you combat these challenges?
While each institution and each team member have different challenges and work habits they have adapted since the stay-at-home order, there are some habitual themes.
Lack of face-to-face
It can often be difficult to manage a team and be a leader without face-to-face interactions. Managers need to trust their employees and provide direction while still checking in with them on occasion. Yet, some may feel like there is too much supervision when working remotely. It is all about balance and communicating expectations when it comes to supervision. Learn what your team needs and adjust the way you manage them accordingly.
Distractions at home & time management
Working from home can be a blast, but it can sometimes be hard to stay on top of work and personal responsibilities. Make sure your employees have the right setup for success by investing in a space that will let their creativity flow without distractions or excess clutter. This space should include minimal distractions and ample room.
As a manager it's important that you understand the demands of their lives while working from home and set expectations in communication with them about deadlines for work completion as well any other issues which arise during this time period. You can't just expect your team to be available 24/7 when they have children, hobbies or family obligations.
Virtual engagement during physical isolation
Without team bonding time, working from home can get lonely. Personal connections between coworkers suffer when they only see each other in the computer screen rather than at a lunchroom table together or on vacation with their families. To maintain morale and connection within teams it is important that there are ways for them to interact outside of work too—whether this means having an off-the record chat about something unrelated during start up procedures or organizing monthly pizza days where everyone gets deliveries sent over just before conference calls begin.
Remote and hybrid work is going to be around for a while. In fact, Upwork reports that by 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers. Leaders who are able to effectively manage their employees remotely will be more successful at work and have a greater impact on the company.
