6 Best Practices of a Leader Working from Home

Whether your office has been instructed to work from home due to the Corona virus, or you are working permanently as a remote employee, more and more businesses are shifting to a remote work set up. While it presents numerous advantages, it also comes with challenges that every leader should anticipate. If you are managing a remote team, here are 6 best practices of a Leader working from home.

1 – Set expectations early on

Just like when hiring a new employee, changing to a new remote work setup requires setting expectations. Working from home offers a lot of flexibility and leniency and boundaries need to be set in order to stay productive. For example, employees can work flexible hours, but they should always be reachable via the office chat.

2 – Don’t hover

If you are used to a traditional office setup where you can physically see all your employees and know what they are doing, it might be a bit unnerving to shift to a remote work setup where you don’t see them. The tendency of some leaders is to hover over their employees, watching their every move to make sure they are working. Unfortunately, this is counterproductive and leads to feelings of mistrust. No one likes to be micromanaged.

3 – Use technology

There are project management tools that can help you manage your employees and stay on top of your department. If you are not yet using one or you’re still using a spreadsheet to track progress, it is time to make the shift to a different tool. These tools can help you quickly see what everyone is working on and if there are any bottlenecks in the process.

4 – Strengthen communication

Communication needs to be strengthened and more intentional. Chat with your team not just when it’s about work but also to check in on them. It is a very stressful time and they need support more than ever. If an issue cannot be resolved in a few chats, jump on a quick call. Make use of video calls to replace face-to-face meetings.

5 – Talk it out

With the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, a lot is uncertain. This can cause feelings of anxiety and stress in your team. Talk to them and stay transparent – openness and honesty builds the best teams. This will give them a sense of control over things and help them manage their stress.

6 – Plan Ahead

Although a lot is still uncertain, it should not stop us to plan ahead. Of course, there would be adjustments that need to be considered. But we need to hold out and hope that things will get better in the future. If we are optimistic about the future, our employees will also be the same.

Without a doubt, we are living in one of most difficult times. In order to thrive and survive this, a business needs to adapt and evolve by shifting to a remote work set up. These best practices of a Leader working from home are just some things that can be done to help manage a remote team.  If you need help in these practices you could benefit working with an expert – contact Leadership Coach, Carrie Benedet, Sydney.