Many employees enjoy perks of remote work such as the lack of commuting, the ability to spend time with family, and the overall reduction in work-related expenses. Of course, each of these benefits can be countered with an argument in favor of the office-based work environment. Most of these arguments center on productivity, and indeed, many remote-based teams have struggled to maintain the levels of productivity seen in an office.
How can you ensure your team succeeds in the virtual environment? Investing in a custom Zoom background with logo is a fun place to start.
Stay Goal-Oriented.
The virtual office environment comes with a unique set of challenges, but many of these challenges can be combatted by maintaining a strict focus on the goals of your team. As a leader, you need to identify specific objectives for each member of the team as well as the team as a whole. Many of the problems that arise in virtual settings can be easily resolved if a supervisor delegates specific tasks and implements clear metrics to measure success. Progress can be tracked by meeting regularly to discuss employees’ performance, concerns, and ideas.
Maintaining consistent contact is an important part of motivating strong performance. In a virtual environment, it can be easy for days or weeks to go by without checking in with team members individually, but this lapse in contact can compromise the culture of accountability you’re trying to build. When you schedule calls, you should make an effort to maintain a put-together appearance. Your staff looks to you as a role model, even if you aren’t working together in person. Small details like a Google Meet virtual background can help create an air of professionalism when you’re talking to team members.
Set Realistic Expectations.
Setting clear goals is important. Setting realistic goals is better. You shouldn’t compromise your expectations just because your team is working in a remote environment, but you may need to adjust the methods you use in order to achieve those goals. If you manage a team of agents who are responsible for cold calling potential sales leads, for example, you shouldn’t lower the number of calls each agent is expected to make. You should, however, assess the resources the agents are using to ensure they have the support they need to meet their goals.
Working in an office is different than working in a virtual environment. Certain tasks may be more difficult for team members without the support that’s built into an in-person workplace. If you notice a decline in productivity, you should reach out to your associates and investigate the problem rather than assuming the worst. You may find that the problem is due to obstacles in the virtual workplace — not employee underperformance. When you schedule these meetings, invest in a Microsoft Teams virtual background to recreate the look of an office environment.
Choose a customized background that matches your preferred look. You can maintain a professional aesthetic even when you’re working in a virtual environment.
