Setting Up Your Remote Employees For Sucess
Work from home has opened the door for employers to find the best talent. Since it no longer matters where you live, more people can apply for a job that might be out of their reach if they had to move. Unfortunately, talent is only half of the equation. Even the best employees need to have the right equipment and good leaders. A custom Zoom background is a great place to start setting a professional stage. Here are some other ways to set your new employee up for success.
Sharing Schedules
Use software to help your new team member know when the team is working. Even if the team works at different hours, this can help someone know who to ask when a quick answer is needed. It can also help connect people to others who are working when they are. Sharing schedules is a nice way to build interaction within the team.
Allocating Resources
Make sure your team has the software and hardware, both digital and physical, that they need to succeed. A good desk and an ergonomic chair make WFH more comfortable. Software programs give them tools that they need to do their job. Allocate resources to giving the team what they need.
Prioritizing Results
Focus on results instead of micromanaging adults. Productivity isn’t about being in front of a computer all day long. Creativity often occurs during those 15-minute breaks when the mind is at rest. Remote workers may need flexibility to balance child care with a WFH schedule, so let your team work when they are most productive.
Encouraging Social Interactions
Getting new team members to interact with the team should be a priority. Make sure everyone has access to teams customized backgrounds, so they don’t feel left out. Give team members a channel to talk about life outside of work. Team members who are engaged with each other work together more effectively and productively. Make sure you’re inclusive by including team members who work outside your designated schedule.
Modelling a Good Work-Life Balance
With remote work, it’s often easy to think you are on call 24/7. Don’t praise team members who work all weekend or work late night to finish up a project. Be a good role model. Set your hours and stick to them. Make your team members set hours and not work outside of their time.
Onboarding Team Members
Get new team members onboarded quickly and efficiently. Make sure they have the right information about their job. Communicate goals and objectives so everyone knows what is expected. Onboarding is critical to setting up a new person for success. Time spent on onboarding should focus on onboarding, not on work.
Staying on Top of Communication
Let your new team member know that you’re available for one-on-one communication any time to help them get settled. Reach out daily for a couple of weeks, then weekly, to know how they’re feeling about their role. More communication gives you more information. Give your team the best Microsoft teams backgrounds.
