Whether your business embraces remote working or is transitioning staff back to the office, achieving harmony and maintaining motivation remains a hot topic in the business community.

The pandemic afforded many of us extra time at home, allowing us to focus on what truly matters. Some returned with renewed enthusiasm for balancing work and personal lives. Business owners may worry about negative effects, but the opposite can also hold true.

At The Alternative Board, we provide one-on-one business mentoring, coaching, and the opportunity to join peer boards of other business leaders. These discussions span the UK and include our team regularly addressing effective management of flexible workplaces. Drawing from 15 years of experience supporting SMEs across the UK, we understand how to make every business work. Read on to find out how to look after the output of your business, the wellbeing of your staff and your profitability.

Foster a positive environment

In our quest for greater flexibility in the workplace, a blend of remote working and in-office presence has become the norm. Business owners and managers must evaluate requests to give employees greater flexibility. In return, employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute more to the business.

Face-to-face interactions still hold immense importance to company dynamics. The saying ‘putting a face to a name’ resonates – relationships often thrive, and issues can be quickly resolved when meeting in person. While it may not suit everyone, these meetings foster teamwork, support, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose. Never underestimate the impact of genuine human connection.

Consider regular team gatherings to align everyone with company goals and business needs. Knowing who does what and when enhances team cohesion. Ultimately, the success of any business hinges on employees’ fulfilment of their roles, personal goals and alignment with broader company objectives.

Take care of the individual

Some sectors have been able to easily adjust to remote working. Others such as retail and hospitality cannot and for some businesses it has proven to simply not work. There will also be flux within your organisation regarding how well people will perform working remotely. Certain personalities and roles will thrive, whereas others may need or desire more in person contact or support.

Younger, less experienced or new employees need guidance from more experienced team members, and they will really benefit from being with others. It might not be every day, but book in days and times to ensure they are getting together. Being left alone to do your work whether at home or in the workplace, can create an element of loneliness and loss of motivation. Ambitious employees who could so easily be helping you to take your business to new heights may head off elsewhere if they feel they are not learning new skills and are getting nowhere on the career ladder.

Employees at every level of the business need support and encouragement. A heartfelt well done can make someone’s day, something which can often be forgotten when team members are WFH. A sense of positivity and recognition needs to be built into work culture so that everyone feels motivated to support their colleagues wherever they are located.

Communication is key

If you have embraced flexible working, ensure your team are working to clear deadlines and that internal comms channels are being utilised both ways. Employees will naturally get more done if they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them, and they feel that their hard work is acknowledged and appreciated. Make sure managers are checking in with team members regularly and everyone is clear on their workloads and the scope of their responsibilities.

Managers should also consider the differing communication styles of their staff. Some may need regular face to face meetings to catch up, while others may prefer quick check ins on specific tasks over email.

If there is something wrong in your team that is hampering workflow, the signs will be there if you are able to listen. Great productivity comes from all members of staff feeling valued, empowered, and having a sense of pride in their work. Speak to your team regularly and create an open environment where they can share what is and isn’t working. The final step here is using your judgement and responding appropriately to make you team feel heard equally.

But don’t just listen, you need to act to achieve the best possible results for your team and your organisation.

Simplify your processes and invest

Don’t be fooled into thinking productivity gains all start with shiny new technology and sector specific software. It actually starts with people and how they are managed, and this can be boosted by streamlined processes, and minimised operational complexity. Business leaders can instil a culture of simplicity into their organisations, and empower their staff at the same time, but they will need a clear infrastructure to ensure effective working if they are in different places and even countries.

It is here that technology is important and needs to be implemented in a way to that enables ease and clarity of your systems. The technology you invest in should enable your teams to collaborate and communicate effectively, which is key to making flexible working work.

Regardless of your business’s operational model - whether fully remote, hybrid, office-based, or retail-focused – there are several ways to enhance productivity. Cultivating great teamwork, fostering an open and vibrant company culture, and having management that is attuned and passionate about providing the best working experience for the team will consistently yield optimal results.