The Three C's of Remote Work

Employees want more flexibility in the workplace, but many companies struggle to respond. According to The Future is Flexible: The Importance of Flexibility in the Modern Workplace, only 47% of employees feel they have access to the flexibility they need.

Only 47% of employees feel they have access to the flexibility they need.

Creating a successful remote work experience will be critical for companies—both now and long-term. The first step is understanding the drivers that matter most to employees. WerkLabs uncovered the key drivers to creating an engaged and productive remote workforce. We put together a helpful guide for the three key areas managers should focus on as they lead a remote workforce.

Here are key questions to address within your leadership team if you’re ready to talk about remote work. 

1. Communication 

• How often should team members check in with managers and leadership?
• How should managers best communicate with their remote team?
• What should whole team communications contain in order to be most effective?
• How will company leadership quickly train managers on what's necessary to keep in touch with employees and keep projects moving forward?
• How will company leadership communicate with transparency?

Tip: Touch points with individuals and your team are important, but avoid “Zoom fatigue” and video call burnout by deciding what priorities need to be a video meeting versus what can be worked through or discussed over email/chat.

2. Collaboration 

• What channels serve best for various types of communications?
• When should teams use video conferencing or phone? Company chat system or email? Text?
• What equipment do employees need to effectively work remotely?
• Do equipment and technology needs vary by teams or individuals?
• What are optimal ways for managers to keep up with team projects to ensure quality and content?

Tip: As you think about communication channels, it's critical to identify what content can and should be accessed after the communication is delivered - such as when new team members are onboarded, or as needed for historical reference.

3. Culture 

• What are the best ways to keep up morale, especially for team members who are potentially more isolated?
• How will managers identify employees who need more coaching versus less coaching during remote work?
• How will company leadership keep employees future focused and looking forward?
• What are effective remote leadership skills and how will managers be trained on them?
• How will the company keep up with Corporate Social Responsibility efforts?

Want to learn more about the employee experience? Watch our webinar featuring WerkLabs President Dr. Pam Cohen.