Breaking down the Enthusiasm Barrier and Getting your Employees Interested in Mobile Networking
As strange as it may seem, one of the problems that some companies run into when it comes to creating a remote network is a problem of enthusiasm. Many employees may be intimidated by the idea of networking remotely, especially if they aren’t entirely familiar with mobile devices. Likewise, some supervisors are hesitant to accept the idea of remote work because they can’t monitor an employee’s time. Here are some ways to break down those barriers.
Technological Concerns
Learning a new system can be intimidating, especially as people get older and become more accustomed to the technology that they use on an everyday basis. Because of this, some people may not be willing to make the jump to remote networking because they don’t want to learn more about their mobile devices. Many people purchase mobile devices for one or two tasks, never learning how to use the full array of technology at their fingertips. This barrier can be overcome by connecting with your employees on a personal level when it comes to the technology. By showing them how learning more about a mobile device can benefit them personally, it encourages them to learn more for business.
Lifestyle Concerns
How many times have you heard the sentiment, “I don’t want to be too connected because then I’ll never get any peace”? Indeed, a mobile network makes it easier than ever to contact your employees through email or other methods, making them feel as though they never left the office. This can be a good thing during work hours, but many people avoid buying into the mobile model because they are worried that this sort of interference will follow them home. You can avoid this problem not through training but rather through practice. Remain employees that they don’t need to receive automatic notifications fr om their devices. Make sure you only contact them after hours if it’s an emergency.
Distraction and Time Management
It’s becoming more and more commonplace in our society for people to gather together and spend all their time staring at their phones instead of talking. While most people aren’t concerned with this phenomenon, it is a situation that reluctant adopters of the mobile lifestyle reference when they explain why they don’t want to make a change. This is a problem that can be handled through education and information. A simple discussion about making sure to put electronic devices off for a while each day, especially during bed, can put a reminder in people’s brains. As long as people stay aware of the proper time for mobile networking, they are less likely to focus too much on their devices.
Hesitation on the Supervisor’s Part
Sometimes the problem with getting employees on board with mobile networking has less to do with their own issues and more to do with their managers or supervisors. One common belief is that if employees can work on their personal devices, they’ll spend more time goofing off than actually doing their jobs. The thing to notify hesitant adopters in this regard is that, according to studies, working on personal devices actually increases productivity rather than decreases it. While people are likely to take breaks to check their social networks or write a personal email, they are more focused and efficient when doing their jobs. The integration of personal and professional lives is actually good for business.
Proper Education and Integration
With the above points in mind, it’s a good idea to spend some resources on education of your employees if there is any hesitance in adopting the idea of mobile and remote networking. When you engage in this kind of education, make sure to emphasize the fact that this is a way to help your employees do their jobs more effectively, not something that is intended to tether them to the workplace at the most inopportune times. If a person is away and on vacation, there should be an out of office message put up just like always, even if the person can technically be reached by phone or email. Offering easy non-mandatory training sessions can also go a long way toward smoothing out the process.
While it’s very possible for a business to just tell its employees to get with the program, you will have better results if you take the time to address any concerns about mobile networking and make sure you explain everything thoroughly. A little communication and education can go a long way toward making your business run smoother no matter wh ere your employees are.
