Answer to Question #262130 in Management for Perception

Question

Is perception management applicable in current times when we are working from home virtually and not interacting personally with our coworkers and managers? Rationalize your opinion with steps and measures that help you manage the process. 

Answer 1

Perception management is no longer relevant in today's environment because we work virtually from home and do not interact with our coworkers and superiors in person. Despite the fact that the number of people working from home is continually increasing, there is still a negative view of working from home. Employees may experience personal and professional challenges as a result of working from home. Personal downsides may include less opportunities for coworker knowledge exchange, a loss of work-life balance, and a lack of peer-to-peer relationships.

To maintain the business culture and regulate the perception of working from home, the company and its employees must assess whether they are ready for individuals to work from home. Current systems and rules, particularly those governing performance evaluation, should be evaluated to ensure that they are fair to all employees. Technology such as servers, laptops, and VPNs must be employed to ensure that employees can be productive when working from home. Employees must, however, prepare for working from home by developing work routines, establishing boundaries with management, and making an effort to be socially involved.

To maintain the present culture, it is vital to continue to build trust and collaboration across teams by leveraging communication platforms like as Teams or Webex. Employees can use the measures outlined to avoid feeling lonely and make themselves available to their coworkers. To get management on board, trial runs should always be done. Employees should not make the shift from working five days a week in the office to working five days a week from home; instead, they should transition and talk with their boss on how to improve current communication. In this case, trust is essential. Working from home should be considered if management has confidence in their employee and the employee is performing effectively. Firms should continue to provide shared workspaces for employees to utilize for important meetings or collaborations as needed to retain a sense of community at work. As a result, when the employee and their coworkers meet in person, they don't miss out on the human interaction they already have and instead form a sense of community.