With the COVID-19 outbreak, organizations across the globe were forced to immediately adopt telecommuting. Even organizations that are typically not compatible with telecommuting had to switch to working remotely in these unprecedented times.
A critical aspect of running a successful business is quickly adapting to the changing environment. Otherwise, you risk losing your customers to competitors. In this adapt or die situation, it’s crucial to make telecommuting work for your organization.
While remote working offers several advantages to an organization and employees, it also poses some obstacles. In this post, we’re sharing some common reasons why remote working may fail for your organization and how you can overcome these challenges. Take a look.
Poor Communication
Working remotely makes it difficult to properly communicate with employees. The communication gap will lead to mistakes, lower levels of engagement, and diminished performance.
To make remote working work for your organization, it’s crucial to establish reliable communication channels. Make the most of video calling platforms like Zoom, Skype, and Google Meeting.
Micromanagement
On the other side of poor communication is micromanagement. Being away from your employees can make you think you don’t have the usual authority. And this may push you to micromanage every employee task. Micromanagement will make employees feel like they are not trusted. Avoid hovering and give your employees space to do their thing.
Lack of Motivation
Being surrounded by productive co-workers is an underrated motivator. On the other hand, being stuck at home with a laptop can make employees lose this motivation. Try to regularly check in with employees to motivate them. Also, encourage them to talk to each other.
Inability to Collaborate
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is the lack of collaboration opportunities. Understandably, employees may find it difficult to connect with each other or effectively convey ideas. Implement a virtual team building program to break the ice and encourage collaboration.
Effects of Isolation
In normal circumstances, employees had the option to head out to a coffee shop and work there. But considering the social distancing requirements, they may be isolating themselves alone at home. Lack of social interaction can impact productivity and even cause anxiety.
Try to make small talk about helping employees who might be feeling lonely. You can also organize virtual drinks and catch-up sessions every Friday evening for all your employees.
No Work-Life Balance
Working remotely can make it difficult to create a distinction between work and personal life. Employees may resort to working longer hours and avoid taking breaks. Not taking breaks has a direct impact on the quality of work. So, make it a point to encourage employees to work normal hours and take frequent breaks.
Difficulty Prioritizing Work
Just because employees are working at home, doesn’t mean you can leave them to make all the decisions. If employees are struggling with time management, help them prioritize their tasks.
Unforeseen Distractions
Kids, noisy neighborhood, pets- when it comes to working from home, the distractions are endless. Try to be sympathetic towards employees if they are dealing with such distractions and share useful advice for managing them.
Technical Issues
Everything from poor internet connection to a faulty laptop can hinder an employee’s workflow. Therefore, it’s important to equip your employees with robust technical tools.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices
Working from home is an adjustment. From messed-up sleeping schedules to poor eating habits, employees may pick up all kinds of unhealthy habits. Urge your employees to stick to a schedule to ensure they are performing their best.
In Conclusion
Change is an inevitable part of running a business. As a leader, you should have appropriate systems and prepared personnel in place to keep up with these rapid changes.