06/24/2020

Seven Ways to Manage Remote Workers With Emotional Intelligence

Physical distance also creates psychological distance

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis has more people working from home than ever, accelerating a trend that was already well established. The main driver of the push to remote work in the past was organizations wanting to attract and retain top talent that asked for the option. Even before the pandemic, surveys showed that 80 percent of employees would work from home at least part of the time if they could. And now, many that have been forced to have their staff function remotely during this crisis will have a powerful reason to continue to do so. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that an organization can save $11,000 per employee per year on average from savings on office space, furniture, electricity and parking. One major issue, however, remains. Engaging staff–making them feel appreciated and part of the organization–has always been a struggle. Having their people working remotely will only accentuate this problem and require new, finely honed people skills. Here are seven ways to lead with emotional intelligence:

Think About and Personalize Your Communication
Even though they are working remotely, your staff will still have the need to feel heard. Think about your mode of communication in terms of what your staff prefer individually, whether it be email, Skype, Zoom, Google Hangout or phone. One size does not fit all. If not sure, check in with them. This will make them feel they have some sense of control and appreciate the effort you are making. There will, of course, be occasions, such as staff meetings, where this will not be possible.

Have Some Face-to-face and Voice-to-voice Time
Physical distance also creates psychological distance, making it more difficult to connect on an emotional level. While not as ideal as face-to-face, connecting in a way that allows us to see and hear the other person is crucial to maintaining the connection necessary for workers to feel a sense of belonging.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.