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The virus pandemic this year has been one of the most disruptive forces that businesses have faced in recent history.  In a majority of cities, business owners and managers are trying to restructure their operations in reaction to the quarantine.  Many companies believe they can survive by outsourcing a portion of their business processes.

Others think it’s more cost effective to build teams of remote workers to handle all the necessary tasks without breaking the quarantine rules.  However, managing a team of remote workers to be efficient during a crisis can be extremely difficult.

 

Only a few small business websites have tips posted for those in charge that have never managed remote workers to find a balance in their approach to supervision.  Some companies give their remote workers so much leeway that it creates confusion and they have no idea what is expected of them.

Other businesses end up micromanaging to the point they control all the activities of their workers.  The key is to find a balance, applying enough control to ensure that your remote workers know their duties but giving them enough space to work without interruption.

 

Businesses should make every effort to motivate their workers.  One way to do this is to give them strict rules and procedures to follow each day.  Create realistic goals for them to achieve and how you expect them to overcome challenges.  Praise their effort when they succeed as failure to do so can have a negative impact on their work ethic.

 

Obviously, you need to adapt the tools at your disposal to a particular situation and conversations during this crisis require real time video engagement.  Monitor the lines of communication between staff members to prevent misunderstandings and the spread of false information.  A common suggestion you might find on small business websites is to get regular reports from your remote workers.  Ask for daily feedback and schedule weekly meetings so any obstacles may be reported at that time.