{"id":2931,"date":"2020-05-14T17:14:41","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T17:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smarttofinish.com\/Blog\/?p=2931"},"modified":"2020-05-14T17:14:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-14T17:14:44","slug":"the-pandemic-of-2020-need-an-online-manager-for-your-virtual-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smarttofinish.com\/Blog\/2020\/05\/14\/the-pandemic-of-2020-need-an-online-manager-for-your-virtual-team\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pandemic of 2020: Need an Online Manager for Your Virtual Team?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the pandemic rolls on, do you wonder if hiring an online manager could help your virtual team reach its fullest potential? If you\u2019re like many companies taking their first shot at managing virtual teams, it hasn\u2019t exactly been a transcendent experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may feel like your grandma trying to use her smartphone for the first time. Or a child taking their first wobbly baby steps. If so, that\u2019s to be expected. Many day-job workers are now working as a remote team for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The famous saying that \u2018necessity is the mother of invention\u2019 holds a similar truth. Necessity is also the mother of the implementation of that invention. People tend to be uncomfortable with change because even good change can take an enormous amount of energy to implement\u2014at least initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where many workplaces have been with the idea of integrating remote teams for the past decade or so. We\u2019ve seen a gradual increase in remote workers but not to the extent you\u2019d think given how technology continues to rapidly improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years now, the idea of having virtual teams has been an attractive consideration. More life flexibility\/increased productivity for employees while cutting down on the overhead costs of housing physical employees has been regularly discussed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what are some challenges businesses are facing when trying to oversee virtual teams during the coronavirus pandemic? Here are some biggies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experienced Virtual Managers Are in Short Supply<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re scarcer than meat, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and computer devices used for remote work. We\u2019ve delved into a world that seems more like something out of a sci-fi novel instead of real life. And we had little to no warning beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have been immediately forced to go online with your project management. It\u2019s been a bit like learning to fly a plane once you\u2019re already in the air. And that\u2019s a lot<\/em> of added stress on everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, finding an experienced virtual manager to help you walk through the challenges of getting started hasn\u2019t been an easy task. There are way more businesses still trying to figure everything out compared to those who are used to leading virtual teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overseeing Employee Success Without Being Intrusive<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Another major challenge is overseeing projects without being intrusive, obnoxious or downright creepy. At its worst, stories have emerged where supervisors want to see their now virtual employees on video all day. On the other side, the newly dubbed online business manager isn\u2019t getting the results that are needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a painfully delicate balance, to say the least. Because when you compare an in-person work experience with a virtual one, you\u2019re nowhere close to comparing apples with apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you oversee projects and achieve the needed productivity without becoming a micromanaging nightmare to your employees? The best answer is that delicate balance<\/a> comes with a lot of learning, experience, and trial and error. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the manager online who just days earlier was overseeing physical employees will naturally struggle with this balance. It\u2019s not their fault. There just wasn\u2019t the available time to acquire those skills before all of this happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing How Much to Expect of Your Virtual Team<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Those who expected to simply go remote and experience productivity similar to before the pandemic began have been sorely disappointed in nearly all cases. The trouble is, there are so many variables at play that it\u2019s hard to know what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand too much and your employees will burn out and become resentful. Expect too little and your profit margins could jeopardize your bottom line or even the existence of your company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there\u2019s the major challenge of everyone learning to work remotely with kids, dogs, and a thousand other interruptions (not to mention sickness-related concerns). But on top of that, everyone\u2019s feeling general stress simply because of the weightiness of the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These have been uncertain and scary times for most and that\u2019s made it all the harder to focus and accomplish the normal amount of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could Your Business Benefit from Hiring an Experienced Online Manager?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In her \u201cForbes\u201d article<\/a> entitled The Sensitive Leader\u2019s Guide to Managing a Remote Team During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Melody Wilding shares the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow more than ever, your team needs you to step up and provide much-needed structure, direction, and support. You can be the manager they need, all without sacrificing your well-being or stressing yourself out in the process.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re able to manage the stressors of leading a remote team during the coronavirus pandemic, good for you! However, if you increasingly find this task too overwhelming, Smart to Finish can assist you. Having a seasoned manager online (especially now) can make all the difference for your company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Smart to Finish<\/a>, we can provide on-demand experts for your business when you need them most. Whether you have an immediate need for an online business manager<\/a>, virtual assistant or virtual team<\/a>, we\u2019re here to make a positive difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to learn more about how Smart to Finish can propel your business forward during the coronavirus pandemic? If so, feel free to get in touch with us for a free 30-minute consultation<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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