In a society not so long ago, people mostly farmed or ran a storefront business where they lived. Then came migration to cities, where a new generation of workers and immigrants packed factories working all hours for the owner in the upstairs office. This was followed by the great dream, along with major social changes and transportation advancement. Workers could now move to a suburban home and travel to their city jobs in buses, trains and cars. Sitting in traffic twice a day for sometimes hours on end, but worth it to own the home of your dreams. That was a great thing or so it seemed.
Now the virtual workforce is changing everything. The way we work has changed dramatically over the years, as I write this on my IPAD from a beach side coffee shop I am one of 16 other professionals with their Apple gadgets keeping them present and available to the demands of day to day business, I find myself asking the question "do we even need to go to the office anymore?"
A Recent Survey Found...
A recent global survey which quizzed 600 executives found 60% predicted their office space would shrink rather than grow within the decade, with more than half believing the office would become a place of occasional use. The survey also found that only 12 per cent of people wanted the work from home option. The biggest shift was the idea of a third place of work, be it a cafe, a library or suburban hub where businesses rent space close to their employees homes.
Today I think it is safe to say that a majority of the tasks that an individual needs to complete can be done just as effectively sitting on the beach at Bondi as sitting in a cubicle, and like most people some of the best ideas don’t come between 9 to 5 during office hours, some of the best ideas hail from the gym, running the coastal path or during the early hours of the morning. BRW has just announced the 50 top companies to work for in Australia, the IT sector has blitzed the list with a further list of organisations embracing workplace innovation and encouraging a virtual work force.
The Changing World
So if this is the changing world how do we change with the times and manage a virtual work force, a few tips:
Develop trust with all of your virtual team members. Let them know that you respect them and that you know they will do their best work for you. Support their independence to make decisions when they have to. You will not always be around to police everything they do. You need to be very comfortable with this.
Be available to the virtual work team members. Let them know they can contact you if a problem should arise.
- Encourage team members to interact with each other. If they build a rapport, they will feel confident to help one another.
- Make sure that virtual team members have the appropriate technology and resources to complete their projects successfully. Equipment should be in good working order. Be sure that virtual employees are trained to use equipment and resources properly. You cannot have the excuse of "I didn’t get it done, I couldn’t log in"
- Establish clear, measurable goals and precise responsibilities for virtual team members. Clarify what is expected of them. Develop timelines for the projects they are responsible for completing. This will help them stay on task.
- Communicate with your remote workers on a regular basis. Set up a particular day and time to meet with them. Keep them informed to alleviate any miscommunication. Discuss their progress on projects. Let them know you are aware of what they are working on. If they know you are keeping track of their workflow, they are less likely to become careless or disengaged.
- Compliment your virtual work team members regularly. Encouragement will boost productivity from your remote workers and can make your virtual office a success. A happy team is a more efficient team, trust breeds loyalty and this point of differentiation will maximize the opportunities to attract the best people, retain the best people and develop the best people.
The Bottom Line
Technology has made it possible to wake up in Bondi, go to work for a company in Melbourne, call on clients based in London and have an evening virtual business meeting in New York. Many companies are taking notice of the advantages of a virtual office and moving against a wasteful culture of presenteeism, and judging employees performance by their output as opposed to the hours they clock up. Finally the resulting savings on the cost of office floor space can make a significant difference to the bottom line.
Why not gather some thoughts on this. Get away from the office, go to the coffee shop / hotel lobby and have a think about it, take the lap top, jot down some notes, put together a quick power point presentation………you’re at it already!
Simon Boulton is Director of accounting and finance recruitment practice Aequalis Consulting. He has more than 12 years of finance recruitment experience in London and Sydney, where he has launched multiple divisions for international companies. At Aequalis Consulting, he provides tailored strategies for companies in various industries to attract and retain the most talented professionals in the market. Visit www.aequalisconsulting.com.au
