COVID-19 struck the world, and companies all over the continent had to send their employees to work from home. It was a bit hectic for the employers since they had to make sure all employees get the tools needed to work with from home. Remote communication technology instantly became a necessity, and companies started to adjust to the new way of interacting with technology. Remote working has helped both the employees and employers with office supplies’ financial benefits, savings on the office rent, and other bills. The cost of working from home is too high for the employers since they have to give all employees working equipment.
Employers discovered that remote working was possible, and they can maintain productivity by leading effectively. Managing a remote team certainly has its challenges, although there are things that managers can do to lead a remote team effectively. Micromanaging is less prevalent with a remote team because one cannot have the chance often to meet the employees physically and get to see what they are working on in their computers. Managers should offer encouragement and emotional support, especially with the abrupt change of remote working (Fraser, 2020). Leading a small team can be an opportunity to practice empathy since employee’s situations depend on their manager’s reactions.
Influential leaders should acknowledge the stress and anxiety that the employees may have and give them affirmation, which will make the latter more focused and productive. They can also listen to the employee’s concerns and empathize with their struggles by checking up on them to know how they are coping with the remote working system. As a manager, if one of my remote team employees does not respond to me in a timely manner, I would give him or her a call to know the problem or communicate through message. It is essential to understand the challenges of isolation of black people from fellow colleagues to distractions at home and lack of one-on-one supervision.
Reference
Fraser, M. R. (2020). Leading in the COVID-19 crisis: Challenges and solutions for state health leaders. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 26(4), 380-383. Web.