Right now, remote working has become a necessity in the world of recruitment. This may be the first time, as a Recruitment Manager you have had to manage a team remotely and that can be daunting.  And despite us now returning to work albeit slowly, managing teams remotely could become the new norm for some time to come.

At GSR2R, we have put together some handy tips for all you Recruitment Managers:

Set Expectations

It’s a good idea to clearly define goals and objectives early on and then communicate them in your weekly catch ups, check-ins.   On a day to day basis, managing remotely means a move from behaviour based monitoring to an outcome based mindset.  Recruitment Managers should focus on output or other deliverables instead of assessing performance according to what is seen to be happening.  Your team will know what is expected and clear guidelines will help establish trust. And remember setting/managing expectations applies to you as a Recruitment Manager too.

Communication

As a Recruitment Manager, this is key when you have a remote workforce.  One of the hardest things about working from home, especially if you’re used to an office environment is the sense of loneliness or isolation that can set in.   Remote working can also create communication challenges as your team may feel less connection and lose their sense of belonging.  It is so important to maintain those online face to face catch ups both on a one to one and collectively with the whole team.  Keep your team connected.  Zoom is great for the virtual get togethers.   As a Recruitment Manager, don’t just focus on daily/weekly activity but also company news/updates and the wellbeing of your team.  It’s important your team feel connected, not just to you but to each other too.

Lead by Example

You are all working from home so in theory, you can work whenever and wherever you want.  You will need to set the example of how to work flexibly.  And ideally don’t send emails after the working day is done and expect your team to answer them. Do respect their personal time.

Let them know you are there for them

Make sure they feel comfortable talking to you about work and personal issues too.  Make time for small talk, build a rapport and get to know them as a complete person and not just a work colleague.   As a Recruitment Manager, by being accessible, friendly and professional at all times, your team will be comfortable talking to you about any issue.

Be Flexible

Understand that your team has a lot going on, especially in the current environment.  You may need to reconsider what productivity really means to you as a Manager. Trust your team and give them the freedom and flexibility to get the work done.  This is the new normal and you will have to adapt.

Managing a remote workforce is not so different from managing in an office environment. Regular communication is everything.  Take advantage of technology available to you and stay connected to keep your team happy and productive.

If you’d like to hear more advice/tips you can contact GSR2R, London’s recruitment to recruitment specialists on 020 3889 1670 or at hello@gsr2r.com

Until next time, Cheryl