Here’s How to Manage Post-Pandemic Remote Work Teams in 2021 – Part One

25% of the U.S. workforce worked remotely before the pandemic of 2020.  It is an innovative business move to consider the advice, tips and strategies, and best methods of managers leading teams of remote workers before the pandemic happened.  It would make sense to set down company policies and training for remote-work employees, but this may not be feasible when problems arise, and circumstances change. On a positive note, with the advent of modern management knowledge and techniques, there are known actions company managers and supervisors can do, minus little to no trouble to enhance the daily actions and output of employees working remotely. The time to make these management actions to improve and maintain remote-work employee daily productivity is today.

Widespread Task Productivity Issues 

To begin, supervisors must know the issues that remote work makes particularly challenging and complex. It is wise to consider these issues in 2021 because top workers might start lagging in work performance and job commitment as remote work begins and then continues for the foreseeable future. It will be particularly true if there is no planning or hands-on preparation. 

Because of these factors, many drive companies now have blatantly lazy or subtly uncommitted. Now take it one more step and consider employees with laissez-faire attitudes are becoming remote workers and think about how it will negatively affect their daily work habits, output, and commitment to the company’s goals. 

Negative issues built into remote work are as follows:

· No direct in-person manager observation

· Reduction of sources of essential company data, information, and news  

· Working alone equals lack of socialization

· Negative impact of working at home and its inherent distractions 

Steps Manager Can Follow to Improve Management of Remote Worker Teams

Despite the ongoing pitfalls and problems associated with remote work, steps managers can take that do not cost much to improve the change-over for employees working at home. 

As much as remote work can be fraught with challenges, there are also relatively quick and inexpensive things that managers can do to ease the transition. 

The steps described here are straightforward but not a piece of cake. They mandate time on your part, direct focus, and sticking with each of them. Your remote work team in 2021 will appreciate your efforts; they will enjoy their jobs and be more effective because you took the time to communicate with them and stick with them through these difficult times.