Remote working is on the rise, with 37% of US workers now working from home on occasion. This has forced businesses to change the way they operate. For the first time, managers are having to come to terms with the fact that their sales teams could be working from home.
It can be done, but it requires some planning. You need the right manager in place who will facilitate remote working. But why are more successful entrepreneurs starting to operate their sales teams remotely? This article is going to explain some of the reasons why.
Better Managers
Sometimes the easiest way to pivot your company towards remote working is to employ better managers in the first place. You need managers who are open-minded enough to make changes in the workplace. Many companies are stuck in their ways because of the people in positions of responsibility.
Good managers are able to build relationships, manage projects, and be accountable. This applies doubly so when working with remote workers. Their responsibilities have increased and so it’s even more important that these attributes are in place.
The fact that you need all these new skills is naturally going to lead to better managers.
Better Retention Rates
More and more companies say to retain the best talent they have to invest in remote working. People want to be in control of their own destinies. If they can work in a place that provides them with the most comfort, you are going to get more out of them.
The more motivated your sales team is the more likely they are going to stay with you. Furthermore, if they ever have to stay home or move for personal reasons they can continue to work for your company.
By constantly having positions filled, you are going to retain industry knowledge and save money. It’s twice as costly to train a new salesperson than it is to retain an existing salesperson.
A Bigger Pool of Employees
To generate leads not inquiries in the selling world you need to have the very best candidates on your team. One of the biggest problems companies experience is that they are constantly fighting with their competitors to get the right talent. Finding qualified people is harder than ever before because employees know their worth. They are going to make demands of you.
Finding the best talent means you need to cater to them. One of the ways to do this is through offering remote working options. Some of the best talents in the world don’t enjoy the office environment or they have commitments at home.
Meeting them half way through remote working could convince them that you’re a company to work for. Remote working allows you to hire the best talent regardless of location.
Preparing for an Emergency
Emergencies happen all the time. Things like natural disasters and snow days are creating the next generation of remote workers. Accidents can and do happen, and they are not always within your control.
In the event that your headquarters is closed, you have to do something about this. Every working day lost represents a lot of money lost. In the globalized world and the globally competitive landscape, you cannot afford to close your doors. You can prepare for an emergency by promoting the idea of remote working.
Collaborating in the virtual environment gives teams the skills needed to operate even when they have to work from home. You are more vulnerable than you think, so it makes sense to prepare for the worst case scenario now.
It Can Be Cheaper
Some of the most attention-grabbing Tweets have come from companies without physical offices. There’s an increasing trend where companies are not renting out office space at all. They are working in the virtual environment using online chat rooms. There are employees across the world who have never met each other in person, and that is increasingly becoming a viable option.
Even if you are not ready to completely trade in your office, you can take steps to incorporate remote working into.
Conclusion – The Future is Coming
Telecommuting has gone up by over 100% since 2005. It’s clear that this exponential growth is not going to go away anytime soon. The future is coming and it’s closer than you might think. Organizations are increasingly looking to remote working options to run their businesses.
What is your experience with remote working?