If anyone had said that a virus would sweep the planet and drastically change the business landscape in 2020, we probably wouldn’t have believed it. But here we are, entering 2021 with our face masks on, sanitizer in hand, and crossing our fingers that our pets don’t run into frame during that important WFH meeting. (No one even needs to decode what WFH is an acronym for any more). 

Many companies became acquainted with remote work this year after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 reached pandemic status. Remote work strategist Laurel Farrer suggests that it typically takes between six to 12 weeks for a smooth transition from on-site to remote work under normal circumstances.

So, how do you ensure a happy and productive remote staff in the midst of this new normal?

A lot of companies have been making use of international virtual assistants for a while, but because this is still a new way of working for many (and because it got implemented without any transition for many) we decided to compile a few tips for a happy and productive remote staff.

1. Build a strong connection with your team 

Working from home can come with a sense of loneliness and disconnection from the rest of your team. The odd conversation in the office car park or group mission to pick up lunch no longer exists and needs to be replaced with new forms of communication. Your employees need to feel like they are being listened to, and that their thoughts are considered. Investigate new ways to have real-time communication. Open, honest and transparent communication will make team members feel valued. This communication shouldn’t only be prioritised when there is a problem – praise and positive feedback is an essential component of remote work.

2. Celebrate achievements

Appreciation feels good in any environment. Productivity is key when working remotely, and performance should be measured and celebrated in all roles and functions in your team.  Positive feedback is a valuable motivational strategy and provides employees with an additional goal to aim for. While employees are not working from a traditional work environment, their expected deliverables remain the same. Employees like to feel that their efforts are being recognised and that they are not just a number, but a valuable member in the team. Publicly recognise accomplishments so that other employees have something to look forward to when working hard to meet targets.

3. Promote a healthy work-life balance

Balancing work and personal life is not easy. It is important to find ways to unplug and switch off, especially when both worlds are operating from the same environment.  While it is very important to be accountable for your time, working from home does not mean that you need to eat your lunch at your desk. It is important that you do not use your personal time doing office work, but it is also just as important that you don’t use your work hours for personal things. A balanced life increases productivity levels – create and maintain boundaries, clearly communicate your working hours and stick to them. 

4. Set clear and realistic expectations

It is very easy for miscommunication to arise when not dealing with people face-to-face. Be clear about your expectations to make sure that you are working towards the same goals. Communicate your working hours and availability, and make sure that the deadlines that have been set are realistic to avoid frustration. Consistently track progress so that all relevant parties are aware of what has been done, and what still needs to be done. Communicate any unexpected issues that may arise timeously. Schedule time to have real-time conversations to make sure that you are all still on the same page. 

5.  Trust

Trust your team – they were hired for a reason. While progress check-ins are necessary, it is important to trust that your team knows what they are doing and will have the necessary tasks completed in time. Obsessively checking in on your team can make them feel like you don’t think they know what they are doing. When trust and respect are maintained, it makes it easier to have an honest conversation on progress. Using time-tracking applications can help with ensuring that the necessary time has been dedicated to complete the required hours of work.