guest column:Emmanuel Zvada WORKING from home has become more than a trend and it’s now a necessity for many companies. Faced with such an unexpected shift, thousands of managers find themselves managing a remote team. Honestly, remote work presents new needs and challenges that impact your people, processes and assets. Prior to the pandemic, remote working arrangements were considered a perk for certain employees and viewed by employers as a way to improve staff retention and maintain productivity. Certain companies are better suited to support a dispersed workforce, and many have had a better chance to keep their operations going during this pandemic. On the same note, many employers are now realising that developing a strategy to manage a remote workforce is not as simple as providing access via email and Zoom. In actual fact, technology provides the foundation to operate remotely, but it is human behaviour that is critical in effectively utilising the infrastructure for productivity. Productivity vs work from home Work from home productivity is an important issue for new remote workers. Previously, office-bound workers have viewed working from home as ideal when it comes to flexibility. This means that there is less commuting, no office dress codes, and no more 8am to 5pm working hours. Working from home comes with its own challenges. It is important to know that employers are most concerned about ensuring that productivity remains high while employees work remotely. Of course, the office often acts as a built-in productivity tool, but there should be mechanisms to ensure that productivity is attained even if people are working from home. Equip employees to work remotely If employers need results from this new phenomenon of work from home, they should also provide necessary tools that enable work to be done. Ensuring that the employees have technological support to keep the home office up is also vital. For example, if you expect employees to attend virtual meetings give them data bundles for the Zoom meetings (it’s actually a silent cost that cannot be ignored). Dialogue with your employees In times of crisis, communication is vital. Communicating with your employees dispels rumours and panic-inducing gossip. When leaders communicate with transparency and empathy, it helps people adjust to the constantly changing conditions crises bring. Two-way communication provides employees with the information and perspective they need and enables them to express and process negative emotions and feel more in control. Follow up with remote employees regularly. Another common work from home productivity pitfall is isolation. Without regular check-ins, employees may start to feel disconnected and, as a result, disinterested. Of course, managers can help address this by instituting regular Zoom meet-ups. Establishing a regular cadence for communicating is also important to developing a sense of routine and giving teams a sense of being loved. Focus on output, not processes When employees are remote, you can’t evaluate them on