Running Satellite Offices

Many factors can result in the need to open one or more satellite offices for your business.

Whether you're going through a merger, have just outgrown your home office and need to open a branch in a new service area, or have employees working from home, you'll face some new management issues.

Here are a few tips for making your satellite offices a success:

Benefits

You and your employees may enjoy several benefits from operating a branch office.

Your branch staff may feel more empowered and independent from working away from the corporate headquarters. This can lead to employees becoming more motivated and improving their productivity.

The working atmosphere at a satellite office is often more casual, encouraging employees to be more creative and collaborative with the other workers in the branch office.

Potential Pitfalls

Unfortunately, some of the same aspects of a branch office that boost creativity can lead to problems down the road. Because the structure tends to be less formal than at headquarters, some workers may start to feel too relaxed.

They can also start developing an "us vs. them" mentality in regards to your home office staff.

You'll also have to be careful about who you choose to work in your branch.

People who aren't self-starters won't thrive in an environment that isn't as closely managed as they're used to.

Choosing the Right Staff

In order to make your satellite office a success, you'll have to start with a team of independent self-starters who can keep things running smoothly under limited supervision.

Choose people who are assertive and will let you know as soon as there's a problem, so you can give them some help before things get critical.

These team members need to be able to ask for advice without feeling inadequate. People who aren't afraid to ask for help when they need it won't let things get out of hand before you even know there's a problem.

Creating a Roadmap to Success

Now that you've chosen your branch office staff, you'll need to create clear goals and guidelines to keep them on track. Make sure everyone understands what you expect from them, along with any milestones or deadlines you have for their projects.

Give your branch employees prompt, specific, and actionable feedback on their work, and make it clear that they'll always be able to contact a supervisor for help or advice.

Your employees should understand who they report to, and the frequency with which they'll be expected to contact this person. This will help keep them from feeling like they're working in a vacuum, and will help catch problems before they turn into disasters.

Establish a schedule of conference calls or video/web conferencing to foster communication between your branch and home offices.

Hosting an in-person meeting for all branch and home office staff at least quarterly will also boost worker relationships and collaboration.

Opening a satellite office is a major milestone for a growing business.

By establishing clear, consistent communication and solid goals and expectations, you can help your branch office become a success.