Bridging the skills gap for remote workers

The world of work has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. The rapid shift to remote working has redefined roles and reshaped entire organisations. It’s even offered some employers huge benefits, from widening talent pools to faster digital transformation. But in the process, it’s also revealed major skills gaps within many workplaces.

Let’s explore the skills gaps with the greatest impact on remote workers, and look at how you can bridge them effectively.

Soft skills: Connecting with others in the virtual realm

Soft skills have always played a pivotal role in the workplace. Few jobs exist in isolation, and most of us collaborate with colleagues to achieve our goals.

This means that good communication skills are vital, whether we’re persuading others or simply sharing information. But with face-to-face interaction limited, writing has taken centre stage, and we now rely on emails and instant messaging where we might once have popped over to a colleague’s desk.

Written communication

To be effective, writing must follow a logical structure and use clear, simple language. But this takes practice, and the sudden shift to remote work has left some unprepared to express themselves as well as they did in the office.

Of course, writing can never fully replace speaking in person, making virtual meetings a frequent go-to for home workers.

Virtual meeting etiquette

Remote work has uncovered a glaring skills gap when it comes to virtual meetings. While the unspoken norms of in-person meetings have evolved over decades, the online world comes with more clear-cut demands.

Attendees have to overcome technological barriers to even participate in a virtual meeting. And while the technology might seem straightforward to some, 71% of virtual meeting attendees have had to say “You’re on mute” at some point.

When you add to this issues like background noise and the dilemma of whether to call someone unexpectedly or schedule a meeting, it’s clear that employees need guidance on how to conduct virtual meetings effectively.

Work-life balance

Once upon a time, most workplaces came to life at 9am and wound down around 5pm. But remote working has blurred the lines between employees’ professional and personal lives, making it harder for some to switch off.

While this might mean more gets done in the short term, in the long term it causes burnout and lower productivity.

In this new age of professional freedom, employees need to learn how to set boundaries, disconnect from work at the end of the day, and practice self-care. As an employer, you can support this by encouraging team members to log off at an agreed time. Going further, you can also offer training on things like time management and preventing stress.

Leadership skills: Influencing from afar

For managers used to sharing a physical workspace with their teams, the transition to remote leadership has been challenging, and the strategies that worked in the office may not translate seamlessly to the virtual world.

According to recent research, 37% of leaders around the world say remote work has caused team morale to suffer. It’s clear, then, that leaders need to adapt their approach to foster teamwork, motivation, and productivity at a distance.

One crucial skill that leaders must develop is the art of empathy. In an office setting, it’s easy to recognise when a team member is having a bad day or struggling with an aspect of their work. But when employee-manager relationships play out through a series of emails and fleeting Teams calls, it’s harder to spot red flags.

That’s not to mention that remote work comes with its own unique set of challenges for each person – from feelings of isolation to managing distractions at home. Remote leaders need to be able to pick up on early warning signs and have the strategies to address them.

Delegation is another vital skill for remote leaders. Without being able to physically oversee tasks, leaders should focus on setting clear expectations, providing necessary resources, and offering regular feedback. The same research as above revealed that 27% of leaders struggle with micromanagement, suggesting they don’t have the skills and strategies needed to empower their teams to complete work.

Tech skills: Adapting to the digital landscape

The remote work revolution has made digital skills indispensable for most employees. Technical proficiency is no longer a luxury, and even those in more traditional roles are faced with a continual influx of online tools.

It’s no longer enough to know your way around Microsoft Office or be able to manage your emails. Employees must wrap their heads around everything from project management platforms to cloud storage in order to communicate and carry out even the most basic tasks. On top of this, there’s the rising threat of cybersecurity, with criminals finding ever more sophisticated ways of hacking corporate systems.

According to this study, almost one in five employees in the UK lacks the digital skills essential for work, meaning employers must act swiftly to ensure their teams are equipped to thrive in the digital age.

Bridging the professional skills gap

Recognising gaps is only the first step; the real value lies in addressing them head-on. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do as an employer to upskill your workforce and boost productivity.

Training programmes: Training is an effective way to develop almost any skill, whether it’s communication, digital literacy, or role-specific abilities. With programmes spanning apprenticeships and professional certifications to one-day workshops, it’s easy to find a programme that meets your needs. Speak to us for advice on the right training for you.

A continuous learning culture: Learning shouldn’t be a last resort, left until major skills gaps arise. By investing in ongoing learning opportunities like e-learning, mentoring programmes, and even apprenticeships for existing team members, you can continually upskill employees and prevent future problems. What’s more, regularly developing your people is a great way to show how much you value them, which ultimately boosts engagement and retention.

Clear guidelines: Sometimes employees need a helpful steer on how to approach new situations. For example, you could create a guide to virtual collaboration to help your people make the most of tools like Microsoft Teams. Even if some team members find remote work straightforward, others will welcome the consistency that comes with having a clear set of guidelines in place.

Leadership development: Offer your leaders training to enhance their virtual leadership skills. Coaching sessions, workshops, and in-house mentoring are all great ways to help leaders adapt and excel in the remote working landscape.

Flexibility and support: Maintaining strict rules for all employees isn’t as simple as it once was. Recognise that every employee's situation is different, and do what you can to offer flexible working and extra resources where appropriate. By making it easier for team members to manage individual challenges, you remove barriers to productivity and enhance team morale.

Upskill your workforce

At Roemer Barnes, we understand the unprecedented challenges employers have faced in recent years. As specialist training consultants, we’re here to help you overcome your greatest roadblocks and grow your business with an employee development strategy that supports your strategic objectives.

Contact us today to explore how we can upskill your workforce and boost productivity through options including apprenticeships and professional training.