New ways of working require new ways of thinking
There have never been so many people working remotely around the world. But even with the best equipment and remote working platforms money can buy, many employees have been struggling with the practical and personal challenges of working from home.
There have never been so many people working from home around the world. Coronavirus has forced many employers to adapt to a seismic shift where staff are working remotely 100% of the time, where previously they followed the traditional routine of going into the office every day from Monday to Friday.
Undoubtedly, this initially created technical and logistical issues, most of which have now been overcome. However, even with the best equipment and remote working platform that money can buy, many employees have been struggling with the practical and personal challenges of working from home.
This is particularly the case for junior employees, where working remotely can have a significant impact on the amount and quality of communication, supervision and support that they receive. One area that millennials have been particularly vocal about is the fact that they miss the human element of being in an office environment.
Employees have reported feeling like they do not have the support or contact that they need, which in turn can start to impact team dynamics and reduce productivity. In the worst cases, employees begin to suffer with burnout, as feelings of loneliness and stress start to impede their resilience at work. All in all, this loses businesses money as work rates and engagement nosedive and sickness absence increases.
So, it really is in employers’ best interest to ensure that their employees are receiving the support and understanding that they need whilst working from home. Everyone’s set-up will be different, and they will face unique challenges.
Those managers and leaders who understand and value treating others with empathy and kindness tend to see the very best results from a remote workforce.
To be clear, this does not mean that employees should just be allowed to underperform, or misbehave, without fear of any consequences. In fact, on the contrary, the idea is that showing some genuine care and understanding means that these sorts of tricky HR issues are less likely to arise in the first place.
“Working remotely can have a significant impact on the amount and quality of communication, supervision and support. One area where junior staff have been particularly vocal is in expressing they miss the human element of being in an office environment”
So, how can kindness and empathy best be put into practice while your staff are working from home?
• Make sure your managers are present
It is easy to underestimate the power of a proper conversation. Managers might find it easier than ever to rely on quick email instructions as their main (or even only) form of communication. It can feel efficient and productive when you are at the top of the supervision tree. However, for those on the receiving end of endless email instructions, it can start to feel like they are an anonymous workhorse for an employer who does not care about them or what else they might have to deal with that day.
Even worse, a junior employee may be left feeling confused or worried about how to complete the instruction but will feel like they should not pick up the phone to a manager who clearly does not like to communicate that way. Ironically, this approach can end up creating more work, as the task is not completed in the way the manager wanted it to be done.
There is an enormous amount of value dedicating the time to actually having conversations with your team, as you would in the office. It can be as simple as spending the time having a five-minute phone call in advance of sending an email, or perhaps checking in first thing in the morning to see how people are feeling and what everyone has on that day. These simple acts show a team that you care and generate much higher quality interactions and understanding than emails alone.
• Don’t forget feedback and development
Although it might feel like the world is currently at a standstill, it is important that leaders still invest time in their team’s development.
Constructive feedback should not be forgotten, just because employees are not sitting in front of you. In particular, giving real-time feedback is an invaluable tool to show employees that you are invested in their improvement, which in turn increases engagement and productivity. As with many of these points, 5 or 10 minutes of your time can make a huge amount of difference.
Also, employees will still have career aspirations, and will want to feel like that they are making a positive contribution. Arranging regular one-to-one video calls to discuss development and progress will give that valuable face time and is crucial in fostering a positive working relationship. Not only does this show that an employer cares and has a genuine interest in seeing employees develop, employees will continue to see a long-term future in their role and will be motivated and more willing to go the extra mile.
• Be mindful of personal circumstances
Managers should make an effort to understand each employee’s personal circumstances, as this that might well be having an impact on the way in which they work from home. For example, those with children might need help working effectively around childcare arrangements, whereas those in a flat or house share may be struggling to find a quiet, comfortable place to work.
These issues tend to manifest themselves as stress, mistakes and loss of confidence, which only makes a manager’s job harder. Whereas, if an employee is asked and feels able to tell an empathetic manager what they need to overcome, this allows you to work out some practical and positive solutions together. More importantly, the employee feels understood and is less likely to hide issues which can store up even bigger issues in the future.
• Seeing the bigger picture
Whilst it is easy to get caught up in what is happening at work, it is vital not to forget that every person in one way or another will be impacted by the pandemic. The reality is that employees are likely to be dealing with many more worries and pressures than they ever have before. This might make them more distracted, as they worry about job security, their health, the health of their family, and what the future holds. Employees are not robots, and it is unrealistic to expect them to be unaffected. This means that now, more than ever, being part of a virtual team and workplace where employees feel supported and understood is one of the most valuable things that an employer can create.