How You Get the Most from a Distributed Workforce
By Nina Kaufman, Esq.
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A team that works like a well-oiled machine is a key element to doubling the value of your business. But how do you keep a tight rein with today’s distributed workforce? And do “tight reins” work with more Millennials entering the landscape?
On this week’s episode, Sophie Wade, a Future of Work authority, points out the old ways of “being boss” that no longer work, and how to bring in fresh thinking around frameworks and systems to maintain a cohesive team.
How You Get the Most from a Distributed Workforce…
- Give work assignments meaning and context. Today’s workforce (Millennials especially) want their labors to mean more than just hours on a timesheet. Share your company’s long-term goals and impact.
- You’re more likely to get a more receptive team and higher quality work when you let people work on their own schedules. Not everyone produces at their best from 9 to 5. Take advantage of communication tools like Slack and Trello to keep up with your team.
- Managing a flexible workforce is easier when you incorporate regular check-ins or key targets/performance indicators (KPIs). Coordinate regular check-ins with the entire team by choosing a day and time every week (or bi-weekly) that works for everyone involved. That kind of accountability guarantees everyone is still on the same page week to week.
- When you (or your management team) know the strengths and working styles of each employee, you better leverage your distributed workforce. Just keep clear lines of 2-way communication open. Their feedback can do wonders to improve client experience–as well as your skills as a business leader.
Sophie wade gave lots of concrete tips you won’t want to miss. Make sure you block out time to listen to this episode of Cash Out BIG!
Sophie Wade is the Founder and Workforce Innovation Specialist at Flexcel Network. Sophie is an authority on the wide-ranging Future of Work issues impacting companies and workers’ new demands – such as attracting, engaging and retaining talent, workplace flexibility, Millennial demands and more. Flexcel provides consulting services to corporations to maximize the benefits and minimize the disruption in their transition to the new work environment. Flexcel Network also helps employees and independent workers adapt and start proactively managing their new, latticed corporate or diversified, independent careers.
Sophie has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and the U.S., assisting entrepreneurs and major corporations identify, develop and execute strategic initiatives, build teams and ventures and create partnerships. She writes and speaks regularly about the Future of Work issues such as workplace flexibility, Millennial demands and retention, talent management, career development, career transitioning and portfolio careers. Sophie is the 2015-17 President of the New York City chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She has a BA from Oxford University in Oriental Studies (Chinese) and an MBA from INSEAD.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
The Future of Work: In Pursuit of Progress. ~ Sophie Wade
INTERVIEW LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/sophie.wade.507
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