Telecommuting And Managing A Virtual Staff
Topics: Trust, Communication, Performance, telecommute, virtual assistant, virtual workplace, internet based
Advances in technology and cultural responses to it mean that more people want to work from home and more companies want to outsource.
Here are just a few examples of opportunities for companies in taking advantage of virtual workers: reduced overhead costs, higher quality workers not available locally, often higher productivity per hour.
Opportunities for the telecommuter: comfortable work setting, more flexible schedule, less watercooler distractions, and no travel time or stress.
“If you’re a virtual team leader, a telecommuter, or anyone who works with someone from a distance, you need special tools to be successful. You can either stumble along and hope for the best, or you can take steps to insure success, says Debra Dinnocenzo, virtual workplace expert, author, speaker and educator.
What are the challenges when working from a distance, and how can you be successful?
Dinnocenzo takes the mystery out of the managing a highly productive virtual workplace by providing three important keys for success:
Trust: Establishing trust provides a special set of challenges for people working from a distance. When people are dispersed, we often don’t have the opportunity to get to know each other the way we do in the traditional workplace. We need to make a special effort to schedule time to develop three important qualities: Reliability, Integrity and Familiarity. With these qualities in place, worker and employer can build trust. If possible, schedule face-to-face time to get to know each other at the beginning of a project.
Communication: When communication breaks down, trust erodes and productivity suffers. Despite the plethora of cutting-edge communication tools at our disposal, the lack of visual cues from our co-workers presents special challenges in the virtual workplace. You have to be more assertive about reaching out. Dont rely solely on email. Pick up the phone and send thank you notes. Insure good communication by checking in, asking questions and soliciting input from your team members.
Performance: The bottom-line is: at the end of the day, we need to deliver results. Be proactive about managing productivity by defining expectations and establishing check-in milestones at the very start of the project. The skills for managing performance in the virtual workplace are the same as the ones you would use in a traditional office. They just need to be applied differently.
There are unique challenges for the telecommuter who works from home. While everyone agrees that telecommuting offers more freedom and flexibility, it also presents a special challenge by blurring the line between our work and our personal lives.
Dinnocenzo recommends being vigilant about setting boundaries. Are you going to answer a work-related phone call at eight o’clock at night? It might be appropriate to be on-call in certain situations, but it can seriously erode your private life if you’re not careful. Establish expectations and boundaries at the beginning of a project or work-relationship to avoid conflict.
When aked what they truly want in their lives, most people say they wish they had an extra hour in their day.
While that’s not possible on earth, it is possible to reclaim many hours. Decide what is truly important in your life and eliminate time-wasting, yet addictive things that aren’t important.
Dr. Proactive, Randy Gilbert, enjoys producing the “Inside Business Success” radio talk show, hosted by Jan Schleicher. Enjoy her interview with Debra Dinnocenzo for free by going to:
www.insidesuccessradio.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
A Winning Spirit Inspires Leaders And Employees To Achieve Greater Success (1)
People must have confidence that their leader has their best interest at heart, not his or her own personal success. The leader must live up to his word, doing what he says he is going to do and managing for the good of everyone.
Down Home Strategies For Rising To The Top Of The Entrepreneur Game (2)
Work with these things, publish them, speak on them, and make them your expertise. The worst thing you can do is nothing, and the best time to start is now.
How To Successfully Start A Business So You Don't Become A Statistic (3)
Proactive Randy Gilbert enjoys producing "Inside Business Success," hosted by Jan Schleicher who presents her interview with Brian Hazelgren based upon techniques from his book. You can hear the interview for free by going to: www.insidesuccessradio.com
How To Make Money Playing Video Games (4)
Game developers and companies hire gamers to play test their games before releasing them to production. This gives them the chances to get some criticism and improvements that the game needs.
Winter Outdoors Shopping For Sports Minded People (5)
These covers will also prevent the leaves from fall from filling the pool and maintain a level of safety year-round when there are small children present in the home. James Brown writes about www.einfachbestekupons.de
How To Spot Fake Ice Hockey Shirts (6)
There are also several small things that are harder to check but if you know what to look for will stop you from buying a fake. Check that the font used is the same as a shirt you know for a fact is genuine, there should be three layers of twill whereas fake shirts normally only have two as well as this most fakes have a layer of twill that is smooth whereas the real thing should have a glacier twill.
Protect Yourself From Moving Fraud (7)
Your Money. Your Move." from scam. Here are some red flags for spotting rogue movers. Rogue movers characteristically work like this: Without ever visiting your home or seeing the possessions you want moved, they give a stumpy estimate over the telephone or Internet.
Choose The Right Banking Account For Your Needs (8)
In addition, there are usually more fees associated with this type of account, making it a good option for those that don't necessarily need to access the cash. One common type of account is the savings account.
How Smooth Elliptical Trainers Offer Superior Built In Value (9)
Electromagnetic braking is a great feature that increases comfort and safety when working on the trainer. Smooth elliptical trainers have features that offer upper body work while your lower body is getting exercise as well.
How To Submit Articles For Backlinks (10)
Three small paragraphs will do. When you tell them who you are put your website link in html inside. When you tell them your location put your website link in inside.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Teaching Children The Importance Of Money (1)
Be a role model for your children. Find a needy family in your town and make charity boxes as a family and deliver them together. Charity does not have to be only about money.
Communication Strategies For Six Sigma Initiatives (2)
Explained below are some factors that you need to consider while devising communication strategies for Six Sigma initiatives in your organization. Determining Target Audiences Each employee in a given organization has a different level of understanding about Six Sigma concepts and methodologies.
Proactive Use Of IRA Secrets Can Keep You Retired (3)
Dr. Proactive enjoyed learning from Richard Parker, Financial Advisor, during an interview on The Inside Success Show. Richard makes financial sense easy to understand. Listen to his interview at www.insidesuccessradio.com
How Job-Hopping Can Affect Your Career (4)
With constant job hopping you will send a signal that you are not ready to make commitments. Organizations show their interest in people who have their career goals aligned with their corporate goals.
Successful Internet Marketing Business (5)
While you may be nervous about starting your own business, the best part is that you can begin part-time and see if it's the career for you. Internet marketing is a broad term used to describe selling goods and services online.
The Secret To An Unstoppable Business: There's Nothing To Fear (6)
A fear kept in the dark, no matter how small, decreases your company's performance. Even if your business achieves its highest visions for the future, you are settling for far less than your maximum potential when you do not dismantle the fears within the organization and individuals.
What Can A Career Training Program Do For You? (7)
Is the school's site user friendly? 2. What are the costs that you will incur? 3. What is the reputation of the institute? Make sure that you keep all these factors in mind before choosing any online career training program.
The Best Internet Marketing Methods (8)
When building a website, keep in mind your customer base. What are their wants and needs? You should create content that is interesting and entertaining in order to establish trust.
Knowing Which Home Business Is Best For You (9)
Taking your time in the beginning of the business will ensure that you last the race to become successful in the end. Nick Angeli is a professional internet marketer who specializes in teaching others how to be successful with internet marketing.
Achieving Consistency In Your Golf (10)
In fact, Nick Faldo once estimated that it takes 10,000 swings before you can achieve any deliberate change in your swing, which goes to show the extent to which it is necessary to practice your game.