In the very near future, recent events have forced companies around the world to change their operations. Of course, many organizations have offered some degree of remote work for several years, but being in a position where the entire workforce suddenly has to work from home is difficult for even the most prepared. Remote work has gone from "nice to have" to "must have," and at least what's predictable is now the new standard, so business leaders need to ask: how can our organization stay productive? connected and happy?
About the author James Petter is Vice President of International at Pure Storage. Successful remote work requires a two-pronged approach. Above all, businesses need the right IT infrastructure. Do employees have the required technology? Do they have the software to participate in conference calls, download applications and access resources? More importantly, are there good security and business continuity practices, such as immutable backups? Second, successful remote work requires the greatest support from business leaders; And in uncertain times like today, employees need strong leadership more than ever. Good business leaders naturally have the skills to manage employee reactions, jump-start projects and motivate teams, but these traits become even more powerful and crucial when all staff are remote. Let's take a closer look at these two factors and what it takes to effectively lead a remote workforce, now and in the future.
Remote access to technological capabilities.
Remote work is not a new phenomenon, and some of us are already familiar with working outside the office, whether it be for international travel needs, flexible work practices or participation in events. However, what was once a gradual evolution to remote work is now a necessary change accelerated by COVID-19. Ultimately, this paradigm shift will challenge both large companies that are already equipped to adapt to remote working conditions and those that are only exploring it for the first time. Businesses that do well remotely will have implemented and tested technologies that can support 24-hour access, communication and collaboration, as well as fast backups. They will also have examined integrated approaches to workplace safety. These factors are essential to maintaining business continuity when a crisis arises and disperses employees, or even disconnects staff. As many companies are already migrating to cloud computing environments, these measures are likely to ring the bell.
Maintain confidence in leadership.
In addition to technological capabilities, a good remote work strategy requires strong leadership: it will not only maintain productivity levels, but also boost morale, which is absolutely necessary in these challenging times. In my role as International Vice President, I spend most of my time on a different continent than my colleagues, so I am used to leading and managing from a distance. Here are some tips I picked along the way:
Customize your approach
As always, being a good leader means adapting your style to changing circumstances. This is even more imperative when managing employees remotely. Remote worker training requires greater intentionality and a better awareness of the unique requirements and conditions for which your team members are most effective in your specific region. A single approach will not give the best results.
While it may take a little more time in the short term, the productivity gains you'll realize by letting your team know beforehand will save you a lot more time in the long run. Working remotely means you can't converse as easily and openly as you can in an office environment. Make sure you take enough time to thoroughly educate your team so they can take action, meet deadlines, and maintain quality standards without having to stop for regular follow-up questions.
consistent communication
Taking care of the morale and well-being of employees is vital, it is very easy for people to feel isolated at a time like this. The key communication to achieve this is consistent communication. For example, I have a 15-minute recovery call with each of the prospects in my country every week without fail, at a defined time. It is important to create a routine and a connection.
Have time
Fortunately for technology, having a reliable video chat with a friend or colleague has never been easier. I actively encourage it as much as possible. It has been argued that 93% of communication is non-verbal so this is not something to be overlooked. A lot of times, you don't really feel like someone, like how many tasks they understand, or how important they fit together, just over the phone or email. Video calls are a great way to compensate for this and be better connected as a person.
Final thoughts
The reality is that recent world events mean that organizations have had to accelerate remote work policies much faster than they expected. It's more important than ever to have an IT architecture that can adapt. While technology is crucial to maintaining business continuity in an organization, first think about how you can use technology to support the most important part of your organization: people.