Sitting behind a desk is outdated. You want your company to be modern and have contemporary ideas, which is where remote work comes into play. Plus, there’s the fact it boosts productivity, makes employees happy and helps to stretch the resources. One person per job is a waste of effort when you own and run an SME.

Making remote work effective isn’t as basic as telling employees they can do their job from home. Controls need to be in place to ensure everybody is liable for their workload. Also, it’s essential to keep an open dialogue when you’re miles apart.

Carry on reading to find out more about remote work and how to make it a success.

 

Set Up

Firstly, everyone with the right clearance needs to be able to access files and data remotely. Problems occur when there are firewalls in place or bugs and glitches that stop employees from doing their jobs. Before they turn in for work in their home office, you should make sure they have the passwords and passcodes for their area. Another tip is to integrate the systems and servers to make the experience seamless. Online Computers and Communications is an excellent resource for non-savvy technology managers. Without the correct setup, remote work is a non-starter.

 

Deadlines

Because they’re at home doesn’t mean the day is any less action-packed than usual. Everybody with the privilege of not coming into the office still has to be as productive as normal. In fact, they might have to do more to maintain the same standards due to the distractions of home-based work. To make sure they are liable for their workload, put deadlines in place for the day. Then, check them off as the clock counts down. Hopefully, a time restraint will keep them focused on the task at hand instead of watching daytime TV.

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Communication

Even when both of the above are taken care of, the process might not be successful. The reason is communication. Bosses tend to invest in the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” simply because the person isn’t in the office. They can’t see them so they don’t bother with the regular conversations which would take place in the office. This is a massive mistake as someone in the company needs to be aware of what is happening and why. Employees, when not informed, will wait for instructions and waste time.

 

Teamwork

Working from home is a nice change of pace which helps build a balance between life and work yet it isn’t a common thing. For the most part, employees should be in the office socializing and mixing with their colleagues. From a management perspective, it makes it easier to build a strong ethic. That way, everyone will do their job and lend a hand. Remote workers who spend most of their time at home can feel disenfranchised as they work alone out of the scope of the workplace.

 

What are your thoughts? How do you find the perfect balance?