It has become inevitable in today’s world that select team members have to work remotely, whether it is for the safety of your team and patients or the obligations of family and personal duties. As a result, team members who work from home encounter challenges through face-to-face relationships and communication. Here are five easy steps to not lose “touch.”
Integrate a business communication platform
Invest in an office-wide communication app that can be accessed anywhere and with any device. Just like text messaging, it is one of the outstanding forms of personal communication. Therefore, give that same access to your team members using applications like Chanty, Slack, Flock, Rocket.chat, etc. Having a well-defined communication workflow will be critical in this role.
Communicate through video conferencing
Many communication apps have this as an added feature. If not, your friendly Zoom, Google, or Microsoft applications have many features to allow face-to-face meetings. The joy of still seeing a smile through a webcam can lighten a remote worker’s day.
Provide the tools and resources to work remotely
Give your remote team members what they need to be the most productive, a computer, an office phone, a printer, and access to an IT technician. These tools will relieve the obstacles and challenges of being productive remotely. In other words, a carpenter can be a great craftsman when given the right hammer and nails.
Schedule towards a goal
Create a weekly calendar on goals you would like to accomplish per day or week. As a result of an established schedule, remote team members can be seen as a multitasked person. However, dumping too much on their plate can cause them to be less efficient and lack follow-through.
Improve communication through weekly check-ins
It is essential to do weekly check-ins from the owner of the company or their managers. Ask the million-dollar question, ” What support do you need at the moment?”
Remote virtual team members have an equally important role in your practice. In addition, those who are in-office face challenges of their own. Don’t forget about them, and most importantly, don’t lose “touch.”
