Article Contributed By Alex Schnee
How and where your workplace is has changed drastically over the past few years. As remote work becomes a popular option for large corporations and small start-ups alike, you might be wondering how it’s possible to manage so many different aspects of a business while in various locations. Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can help you make the switch a more remote-friendly working space.
Here are some ways you can successfully create a business that works from around the world.
Hire the right people
Some people love to head to the office on a daily basis. They love the idea of meeting with coworkers and sharing space with others. That fuels them to work with others and to come up with positive solutions to many problems. Others feel more productive in their own spaces and welcome a chance to work from home or a separate office. When you hire new workers, you want to know that they are doing their jobs—even if they aren’t being constantly monitored. It takes a special kind of person to be self-motivated enough to accomplish their tasks without being prompted.
Have the right tools
Your employees will need to have access to a number of files that might have been available in an office environment. This might mean that you have to move documents online, have programs that allow employees to access files, and that help you to keep in touch with one another. This might mean that you have to purchase some of these tools or learn to work with free ones. Even free programs like Google Docs can work if they are used correctly for your business.
Be flexible
Having remote workers around the world means that you might need to be a bit more flexible with due dates and the time that your workers are available. Different time zones and schedules means that you might have to require a certain amount of hours logged each month, but you can’t expect employees to be online during the hours that work for you. Flexibility is incredibly necessary when you are looking to create a business that is based in multiple locations. You also have to be willing to meet employees where they are at.
Encourage creativity
Like being a flexible business owner, you also have to be willing to think outside the box a little bit and to encourage employees to think of creative solutions to problems. The issues you run into as a remote business are probably much different than the ones you would face if you had a home office where you could see your employees in person every day. You want to be in a place where you can encourage your workers to have a stake in the company and to think of new and innovative ways to approach any issues your business is facing.
Be open to offering benefits
Loyal employees can be earned in a number of ways. Just because your employees work remotely doesn’t mean that you can’t offer them reasons to enjoy working for your company. This might mean providing health benefits (or at least a stipend), offering to pay for continuing education, or giving them time off when they ask. Remote work isn’t an excuse for making things cheaper for you—it also means that you still need to think about your employees and how you can help them do the best job they can.
Switching to a remote environment can be beneficial in a number of different ways. However, before you make the change, think about how you can do it seamlessly and successfully.