Managing Staff
Remotely
Does it feel like a loss of control? A loss of knowing whether your staff is working or goofing off?
Ask yourself: Does it matter what time the work gets done, or that it gets done well?
Ask yourself: How can I assign work that makes both me – and my staff comfortable that we both know what is expected and when?
Ask yourself: Which team meetings really need to occur in real-time and which can be handled by e-mail? If in real-time, what technology works best for our teams?
I know its different – and therefore somewhat difficult because all the things you learned about managing by walking around – by seeing and touching and talking with your staff is now almost impossible – BUT and that’s a big but – there are ways to assign tasks, hold people accountable and reward and reinforce them – all remotely.
So – take a deep breath – remember that change (and this is certainly a big change for many) causes stress – but once it is solidified it becomes a new habit.
Some things to remember:
- Your staff might very well have their kids home from school – and they need to amuse them, teach them, be kind to them – and have them interrupt their work frequently.
- They too are under stress – this is for many a new way to work
- Some people love working from home – others are quite anxious and possibly even suffering from feeling locked up and deprived
- Being on time doesn’t really matter – does it?
- Well maybe it matters for on-line team meetings – but does it really matter if the work week changes from 8:00 AM to when the kids are down for a nap?
Change has stages – and you might be in the beginning or middle stages – and your staff members will vary as tow here they are…but remember the first stages are denial and anger – after a while, people adjust – and adjust especially well if they can figure out how this change actually benefits them. Finally, the new behaviors become the new normal.
So – your job as manager is to find ways to enable them (and yourself of course) to see the positive benefits in working remotely. There are many. For example:
- You can avoid rush hour traffic – just walk into your second bedroom
- You don’t have to listen to people on the other side of the cubicle complain
- You don’t have to wear makeup or dress professionally
- You can pick your hours
- You can make your own breakfast and lunch in your own well-stocked kitchen
- You can get up and stretch whenever you want or need to
- You can even find time to exercise when your circadian rhythms say it is the right time for you
Just to remind you: Many years ago I attended a conference of educators being asked to consider teaching online. They were all so fearful of loss of control and many – a great many – resisted the new way that was being proposed. Yet, over the years (long before Corona Virus) on-line courses have been created and measured. There are on-line colleges and universities that are quite successful. This model has been replicated at the primary – elementary school levels today and although a little bit awkward for some – the model is working.
If it can work in the field of education. It can work for you.
Just think about giving up some measure of control – but know you always do control the quality of the end product or service your staff provides.