As businesses have adapted to working from home, many advisors are encountering challenges on how they plan their days and manage their teams. And despite many states reopening, several firms are choosing to maintain a remote workplace that favors more flexible cultures and cost savings.
This all begs the question: How do you manage your team virtually over the long-term?
Of course, every advisory firm's culture is different, and there's no one "right way" to manage your team remotely — except for what's right for your firm. Our firm has been running virtually for four years, and there are many things we've learned in the process.
Our top takeaway is that the small things really matter; they often make the biggest difference in employee management.
Here are three small steps to help your "remote" advisory firm be as productive as possible.
1. Say "Good morning."
This may seem silly, but it has been the most powerful small action I've seen in our virtual environment. When people are working outside of the office, it can sometimes "feel" like they are out there all alone.
In the virtual environment, getting the day started on the right foot is critical to the success of the team. We have learned "good morning" is the way we've come to know that everyone is working and that they are there for each other.
That simple act truly makes a big impact on our virtual platforms and/or text messages.
Over the past four years, our rule of "say good morning" has turned into other ways of encouraging each other early in the day. Of course, there are different renditions, such as "I'm here to help!" or "Let's rock and roll!" or even praise for the success of the previous day, like, "Yo, great work yesterday — let's do it again!"
To us, "good morning" is our way of ensuring that support and encouragement happens as part of our team culture each and every day. In the virtual environment where people don't often "see" you, inspiring words make a world of difference.
