Remote and hybrid work relationships have been significantly more common in the wake of the pandemic. McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey reports that 58 percent of Americans have access to some kind of remote work—more than a third work remotely full-time.
The most common remote jobs of those of knowledge workers. For example, many companies have chosen to let their marketing and public relations teams work from home. Why? There are several key benefits, including:
- Enhanced productivity: PR teams can make calls and discuss campaigns without the distraction of the open floor plan bullpen.
- Work and life balance: PR pros often work long hours, which can take a toll on family time. By working from home—either part-time or full-time—team members can create a more sustainable work-life balance.
- Cost savings: Companies can save on office space and office supplies. Workers can save on expenses from commuting and daycare.
- Enhanced communication: Collaboration and communication tools such as MS Teams, Zoom, and Slack make it easy to stay in touch and work together with colleagues.
- Bigger talent pool: By hiring remotely, you can draw from a broader talent base, including those located well outside your immediate area.
- Reduced turnover: Employee satisfaction increases from remote work, cutting down on turnover rates and keeping employees onboard longer.
Building a highly productive remote PR team
A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco showed no discernible drop off in productivity in companies deploying remote teams. Other studies have shown a potential increase in worker effectiveness. Regardless, how you build and manage your remote PR team will make a big difference in your results.
Here are 5 tips for building a highly productive remote PR team for your business:
1. Establish communication protocols
Remote employees must be clear on management expectations. Employers should define communication routines to avoid conflicts. For example, regular team meetings may be required weekly or daily to ensure everyone is aligned on goals, progress, and priorities.
2. Invest in remote tools and technology
Companies need to provide PR teams with the hardware, software, and apps they need to work productively. Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace can provide a centralized platform to work together on projects. Trello, Asana, and Basecamp are popular tools for organization while Connecteam helps facilitate asynchronous communication. Time-tracking apps can help streamline your employee management process and improve accountability through clock in & out, GPS tracking and automated timesheets.
3. Foster a strong company culture
When workers are not in the workplace, it takes additional effort to develop and maintain a strong company culture. Managers need to be proactive about open communication and providing feedback.
This is especially important when some team members work remotely and others work in the office. It can be easy to exclude remote workers from impromptu or important conversations.
Managers should include remote workers in all team meetings and organize virtual team-building activities to keep PR teams engaged.
4. Prioritize employee well-being
Remote workers tend to work longer hours than their in-house colleagues. On average, data from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that home-based employees work more than 48 additional minutes daily.
Employers should encourage remote PR teams to take regular breaks and avoid burnout from overwork. Allowing your remote workers flexibility in how they get their job done can make a big difference in productivity levels.
Remote work can also be isolating. Many companies offer mental health resources to help support remote employees.
5. Maintain transparency and accountability
Trust is crucial for both employers and employees. Employees have to trust that they will be treated fairly when working remotely. Employers have to trust their remote teams are working efficiently when out of sight.
Establishing clear goals and deliverables can help focus work on productivity rather than time spent. Regular check-ins and feedback will help keep everyone on track, producing transparency and accountability.
Produce amazing results
High-performing remote teams have a shared purpose and understand the company’s vision and expectations. When workers understand their role and responsibility—and feel trusted and supported—they can produce amazing results.
By deploying these tips, you can build highly productive remote PR teams that benefit your business.
