One of the chief innovations in the 21st century workplace is the transition to working from home. Technology has advanced to a degree that many tasks that required workers be on-site can be done through conferencing apps, project planners and other tools that keep workers connected and on the same page.
The COVID-19 crisis transformed many office jobs into work at home positions by default, at least temporarily. Many of these office jobs may likely be done at home on a more permanent basis. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that in 2021, 25-31% of the workforce will be working from home. Currently, 56% of the workforce holds jobs that can be done at least partially offsite.
Many employees enjoy the flexibility and freedom of doing their jobs from their bedrooms or dining room tables. There is no need to wear special clothing and commute to work. Parents enjoy the ability to check in on their kids and saving money on childcare.
However, employers may be concerned about efficiency lapses that can occur at home due to distractions, or the late hours parents may have to put in to compensate for caring for their children during the day. The following are tips on how to motivate employees working from home and how this may impact productivity.
Stay Connected
Check in every day or at least every other day with employees. There are many video conferencing tools such as Zoom or WebEx that create virtual meetings with your employees. Not only are these conferencing tools useful for discussing goals, ideas, and work-related questions, but connecting with employees and touching base about their day can raise morale, replicate the in-house work experience somewhat and maintain a connection.
Set Targets
Goals and targets are essential for any team, and if employees have something to strive for, they will stay motivated and focused. A study by the Hay Group found that workers who reported feeling engaged in their work were 43% more productive than those who reported a lack of interest. While this fact is not surprising, it reinforces the need to find ways, such as targets and milestones to keep employees engaged and involved.
Provide Incentives
Although you may introduce targets as a way of inspiring employees, they shouldn’t have the impression that they are being worked harder without adequate reward. If employees are given incentives for hard work and reaching targets, they may feel more fulfilled in their work and less distracted by issues at home. Some incentives might include a reward for the team that reaches a target first or an extra personal day for a job well done.
Adopt the Right Technology
Technology is the reason working at home is a viable option. Make the most of this technology by reaching your employees at every phase of their time at work. Some tools that are useful include
- Video conferencing tools such as WebEx, Zoom
- Task schedulers such as Trello, Asana
- Business chat–such as Campfire
- Project Management Systems–Troop Messenger, Base Camp
These are just ideas since there are many more tools that organize your team to communicate and complete tasks no matter where they are.
A Growing Trend
The trend toward working at home is likely to grow, and it is essential to find ways to keep your workers engaged remotely. Setting targets, maintaining a connection, and leveraging technology to stay in contact with your team will help them achieve their full potential at the office and home.
