We were lucky to catch up with Toni Counts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Toni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about making remote work effective.

My entire team works remotely across the US and Overseas. Technology is constantly advancing making this more and more possible. I can hire, train and coach without ever having to meet you in person. Operating as a remote work environment can offer you a wider talent pool, giving you the opportunity to source quality people based on specific skill sets. It also saves on common overhead costs, such as office rent, utilities, expensive copiers, and excessive office supplies (this is really a thing!)

For me, it’s really important to create a work-life balance. Earlier in my career as a young working mother, I remember the struggles of having to find affordable day care and after school care just to put in 40+ hours working my W2. I am grateful that I can create a work environment where an ambitious working mom, or a new father can also be home with their children while earning an income. This makes me smile.

Of course, working remotely can have it’s pitfalls. It requires routine in order to be successful. You must commit to it just like you are showing up to someone’s office. You have to be able to work without supervision, be resourceful, organized, and hold yourself accountable. Distractions can happen when working from home and knowing how to properly navigate that, is a good “work from home” skill.

Having a designated work area is also very important. It needs to be a separate room or area, and it should be your dedicated work space. This will help you create that sense of separation from working, to “just being at home”.
Without having that clear separation, you are not receiving the full benefit of the work-life balance that working remotely provides.

You also have to be okay with not seeing co-workers every day like you would in a traditional office setting. If you need daily social interaction, working remotely will be quite the change for you. This doesn’t mean you won’t see your colleagues at all, I regularly see a number of people that I have never met in person on weekly zoom meetings. For my remote employees that live locally, I make it a point to get together for a breakfast or lunch about every quarter to catch up and share new updates or processes. It’s important to have an occasional meet up if you have a remote worker that lives local to you.

Overall, creating a remote work environment will benefit your business with cutting on costs and attracting more applicants. Your employees will be happier and more productive. They will feel trusted and valued. When you find people that are masters of their craft, give them the freedom to showcase their talents. Happy employees mean less turnover.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Innovation Counts is retained by some of the most successful mentors, allowing them the freedom to focus on growing their brand. With over 20 years of professional experience in the Accounting industry, a B.S. in Business Management, and a multi-business owner, Toni combines her knowledge and passion for numbers, with a genuine desire to help entrepreneurs obtain the freedom to create generational wealth. Knowing your numbers is essential to your overall success. That’s why we made it easy for entrepreneurs to have access to a system that allows you to stay on top of your business financials. Our bookkeeping services are tailored to fit your business, whether you are just starting out or are in the 5th season of your career, we have services that will meet the current needs of your business.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

My advice for managing a team is to give people trust, freedom, and let them showcase their talents. Hire qualified and talented people and let them be great. Have processes in place, they need to know what is expected of them. Maintain an enjoyable environment, I cannot stress this enough. Most of us spend a big chunk of our lives at work or interacting with co-workers, partners, etc., having an environment free of drama and negativity is really important in keeping that light of yours shining.

My first work from home job was a big adjustment. I had just left a 3 year job working as an accounting manager for a sports academy under major micro management. Being able to work from home and knowing that my new employer trusted me to do what I’m excellent at was a great feeling. I enjoyed my job and it made a difference in my performance. I was eager, proactive, innovative and delivered results. A change in my work environment inspired that.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what helped me is that I am an honest, kind & reliable person that is very knowledgeable with my craft. I am a go giver and will help someone without expecting anything in return. Living like this is what creates abundance and opportunities. This all started as a side hustle that I eventually left my W2 for and has provided me with opportunity after opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.innovationcounts.com
• Instagram: innovationcounts
• Facebook: Toni Counts
• Linkedin: Toni Counts
• Youtube: @innovationcounts