Being an effective manager in the age of digital transformation isn’t easy.
In the past, all you needed to do to keep everything running smoothly in your workplace was keep an eye on your team, and keep your door open in case your employees had any questions.
Of course, the workplace has changed since then. There’s no guarantee that all of the people that you’re managing will even be in the same office as you. 50% of the UK workforce is set to be working remotely next year (2020), and that number will only continue to grow as cloud adoption becomes more prevalent.
Managers are now dealing with a broader range of challenges and concerns than ever before. The question is, how do you make sure that your team is just as motivated and efficient as ever in the new world? Here are 3 tips to help.
1. Be Clear About Your Expectations, and Communicate
Whether your team members are working in the office, or remotely, they need to know what you expect from them so that they can deliver work that meets your standards. Whenever you bring someone new into your company, make sure that they know what kind of deliverables you’re going to need from them, and how you’re going to measure the quality of their work.
To ensure that performance remains as consistent as possible, ensure that your team members can reach out to you if they’re unsure about any of the tasks that they’re given. Provide collaboration software so your employees can send you a quick message if they need help with a project or get feedback on their latest work. Remember to host regular one-on-one meetings where you and your people can share and discuss concerns. You don’t need to be face-to-face for these conversations; a video conference can be just as useful and immersive.
2. Keep Everyone on the Same Page
Keeping your entire team on the same page isn’t just about investing in regular communication and collaboration strategies. You’ll also need to make sure that people can check deadlines and projects from wherever they are too. Keep an updated shared calendar online where your teams can check up on project requirements and upcoming events.
To help everyone get the assistance they need when they need it most, make sure that people mark their presence on the calendar, and make people aware of any days that they’re not going to be available. It’s also worth ensuring that your team knows where you’re going to be and how to contact you through the day. At the beginning of each day, look at your calendar and make sure that tasks are properly prioritised according to your company’s needs.
3. Empower your Employees
Finally, as a manager, your employees are your most valuable assets. Make sure that you give them everything that they need to thrive. Give your team members the responsibility and autonomy that they need to manage their own work, using the tools that are best for them. Provide cloud-based software so that they can log into their workplace wherever they are and arrange their schedule around their individual needs.
If you give your team members the flexibility, they need to thrive in today’s agile business world, and remove the roadblocks that would otherwise damage their productivity; you’ll find that your company culture quickly improves. You can also continue to support your teams over time by giving them additional skills through training, mentorship programs, and continued development strategies. Show your team that you believe in them and provide them with the help they need to continue growing.
