Regular Contact

Managers should make regular contact a priority to effectively lead a company remotely. Communication is a challenge for remote teams. It is easy for team members to feel disconnected and for messages to get lost. Daily contact with each team member can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and feels connected to the company. Personal contact can include a short virtual meeting, or companies can rely on messaging software to talk to the team each day. As long as every employee receives personal interaction, it can help manage communication issues. There are a number of online tools available to make checking in easy. Check out platforms such as Skype, Zoom, and Slack.

Flexible Schedules

A part of what makes remote work so appealing to many is the ability for employees to balance their family and personal commitments with work commitments. As employees often have home distractions, it is best to focus on goals rather than work during specific hours. Leaders should set goals and deadlines for employees to meet. Managers need to relay the reasons for the targets and check-in on employee progress. The emphasis on goal-setting over work hours gives employees more freedom to decide how much time they need to commit to individual projects. It also provides managers a basis to hold employees accountable for their work without being overbearing.

Tools and Software

A leader can only be successful with managing a remote team when employees have adequate tools to do the job. Managers who want to be effective should be willing to invest to make sure that employees have what they need. Team members working remotely need a strong internet connection and appropriate hardware, such as a computer, to work in a virtual environment. Managers also need to decide the types of software that will help team members succeed virtually as well. Video conferencing software, messaging services, and any software they made need to access company databases are essential for remote work.

A remote work environment does present challenges to managers. It takes a dedicated leader to make sure that a team maintains productivity in a virtual working environment. These tips can help any manager lead a company remotely.

The post Effectively Leading a Company Remotely first appeared on Jack Nourafshan | Philanthropy.

Of course, many organizations already had existing wellness programs, however, a large number of these programs were simply not created to serve the workforce remotely. The events of the past year have heightened the stress of most people so it is imperative that those in leadership positions are fostering the wellness of their employees.

Here are a few wellness program ideas to help remote employees.

Provide Effective Stress-Relief Techniques

It is more important than ever for companies to promote health and wellness, not just physically but mentally. As everyone navigates the uncertainty of this day and age things such as yoga, mediations, and breathing techniques can help people to relieve stress and avoid burnout. Consider creating a resource where employees can find different ways to handle stress. Apps such as Headspace are wonderful for meditations and Happier is a great app for people looking for help sleeping or gaining important insight.

Share the resource with the entire team and make sure to include links to the websites. Furthermore, make sure that all employees know where to find the employee assistance programs. Things such as mental health support, benefits information, and coverage details should be easy for people to find and navigate.

Mix Up Meetings with Fun Games and Conversations

Meetings aren’t usually the highlight of anyone’s day, however, meetings on Zoom or Skype can be particularly daunting. Try keeping your team engaged and motivated by having an open conversation before starting each meeting. A lot of people are feeling isolated so allowing people to talk to each other, whether about their days or how they’re feeling can be a huge mood boost before a meeting.

Another great idea is to find a fun game online to play together as a team. There are a plethora of websites that offer free games, whether it’s hangman or Pictionary. Hosting a game during meetings is not only a great way to relieve stress, but it is also a wonderful way to promote collaboration.

The post Promoting Wellness for Remote Employees first appeared on Jack Nourafshan | Philanthropy.