By Tom Leins
'Home Working' is an increasingly popular method for businesses to keep costs down and productivity up - but is it a suitable strategy for you? Obviously, businesses that rely heavily on customer interaction or extensive colleague collaboration won't be able to explore this option, but office-based administration, project management or creative industry roles could definitely be adapted to a home working template. A recent survey carried out by Business Communications specialists Avaya ascertained that 78% of staff would prefer the ability to work from home over a pay rise. The traditional office set-up is changing fast, with many businesses gravitating away from the 'tribal' manager/team dynamic, and embracing a more open-minded set-up. If you want to support company growth, and expand your work-force - without any additional costs - check out the following tips...Here are our Top Five Tips to get the best out of Home Working:
1. Measure Employee Work-Load by Output, Not Input!
As the old adage goes, trust is hard won, but easily lost... Relaxed working guidelines should not be an excuse for a lack of focus, and it is important that staff and management begin by outlining a range of targets and objectives against which employee performance can be objectively measured. In business, results are what matter, not hours!
Action Task: Take the time to outline goals and targets before your employees make the switch to home working. This will ensure that projects stay on track and give you tangible evidence of your employee's work load.
2. Give The Right Jobs To The Right People.
Not all positions lend themselves to home working, as certain tasks prioritize localized, office-based interaction. Workers who concentrate on specialized jobs can thrive without the distraction of irrelevant office tasks, but anyone whose job specification is more collaborative will flounder without the support of co-workers. Equally, encouraging the wrong personality types to tackle home working could result in them becoming even more disconnected.
Action Task: Make a list of your current staff members and evaluate their key competencies and social skills. If certain members of staff would be better served concentrating on a more focused work-load, why not broach the subject of home working?
3. Explore New Technology.
The introduction of home working will inevitably raise question marks over a lack of face-to-face contact. Video-conferencing can fill this void, and offers an affordable solution to an obvious problem. Although Social Networking sites can be a distraction if used inappropriately, applications like Twitter and Instant Messenger offer a valuable, alternative channel of communication for home workers. Always let the job dictate the technology - not the other way round!
Action Task: Home working needn't be an obstacle to collaboration if you get to grips with a 'Screen Sharing' application like Google Docs. Think of it as a 'virtual white board' where you can share ideas and works-in-progress with a pre-selected network of co-workers.
4. Develop a Suitable Man-Management Strategy.
Managing a 'Remote Team' requires energy and enthusiasm, and a manager must be able to successfully pass those traits on to his workers. Build a relationship of mutual trust, and ensure that your employees aren't apprehensive about coming to you with problems. No one is 100% self motivated, and good man management will prevent your expensive 'resource' from falling "off the grid".
Action Task: Ensure that you regularly touch base with all of your home workers, even the self-motivated over-achievers. Don't take their previous quality control for granted - you should always seek to encourage positive momentum.
5. Avoid Communication Breakdown.
Out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind, and it is important to hone a communication system that works for management and staff alike. If some kind of routine is in place, in the form of a weekly phone or video conference, then it can inject some much needed structure into the employee's working week. Different people have different methods of communication that they prefer, so don't let anyone drift out of 'the loop'.
Action Task: Even if email is easier, make sure that you pick up the phone once a week and speak to your employees directly. Ask them what challenges they are facing, and give them the confidence to come up with their own solutions.
You have been reading our Top 5 Tips for integrating a Home Working set-up into your business. If you follow our five handy hints you will be well on the way towards a successful transition.
Tip: Don't be afraid of integrating home working into your business. The technology is in place to make a seamless transition into a bold new era of telecommuting. Make the most out of it - before your rivals do!
We hope that you have enjoyed our 'Home Working' Business Tips. For more business advice, please visit: http://tofind.co.uk.
