In today’s ever-advancing world, virtual offices are becoming more and more popular. As such, it is important for businesses to consider transitioning from traditional, brick-and-mortar offices to more affordable virtual offices. Before you decide to make this jump, it is important to consider a few things.
Look over your business’ practices prior to switching to a virtual office. Decide what is working in your business and what is not. This includes things such as policies, deadlines and even employees. While the prospect of working from home is likely to boost productivity among your employees, it is still important to have the best team possible when making the switch. It is also essential to give clear guidelines as to what is expected of these employees, which is why it is vital that you reevaluate your policies and procedures before making the jump.
When it is time to make new hires, only consider those with experience working in a virtual office setting. Virtual office teams must be disciplined self-motivators; there is no room for slackers or those that need to be babysat. Any new hires also must understand your expectations and policies clearly.
As the boss, you must understand that your role and practices change when you switch over to a virtual office. You are no longer responsible for ensuring that your employees work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Your new task is to ensure that projects are completed by the set deadline, no matter what the actual work schedule is like. It is important to put more emphasis on the final products rather than the work process when working in a virtual office; whereas in a traditional office, it is often the opposite.
Those companies with virtual offices still must have company meetings and host clients from time to time. Look for a virtual office provider that has a shared conference room. Businesses have the ability to book this room for a variety of purposes. When you need to use this room, book it well in advance, and give plenty of notice to your employees if they must attend. This allows for ample planning time for travel arrangements.
Making the leap to a virtual office is not as hard as it seems, but you must think things over carefully before you make your final decision. Ensure every employee you keep on staff and hire knows how to efficiently use all of the required technology, and be firm with your policies and procedures. While it is no longer necessary to keep a tight leash on your employees’ hourly activities, it is critical that your company, and thus the employees that make up the company, stay productive.