Running a team of employees in your business can be tough. It takes hard work and organization to be a successful leader, and you must focus on the company’s well-being and the workers. If you have staff that work off-site, it’s even more challenging.
What strategies can you implement to be an effective leader? Here’s how you overcome the challenges of managing remote employees.
1. Promote company culture
When you set up a company, you create an ethos where your values and behaviours meet to balance your objectives. Building a company culture helps employees feel like part of the team. Unfortunately, remote employees have a harder time connecting and can feel left out.
Look for ways to include all employees, like virtual meetings and team-building retreats. You want your remote employees to be able to share the company’s work environment and interact with each other. The business’s mission and expectations, along with its values and ethics, build the company culture, and having the entire staff participate and contribute to its creation help all employees have fun.
2. Employee communication software
A way for remote and in-house staff to communicate effectively is key to a successful hybrid operation. Many companies are transitioning to this model, which is a great way to conduct business in the current and future work climate.
Implement a robust employee communication software platform so the team can share work and project contributions in real time. Collaboration is the key to having a strong company, and software that connects all staff will keep everyone engaged and on task. Tools included are:
- File sharing
- Messaging
- Email software
- Web video conferencing
- Intranets
- Targeted communication
- Forum and chats services
- Collaboration platforms
- Employee apps
Your business will be more profitable when your employees can seamlessly work together.
3. Track remote work and productivity
When managing a remote team, it can be hard to know how much work is done. You need to understand people’s skill sets and see where they are best put into maximizing productivity. There also needs to be checks and balances so goals and timelines are met. This can be done through work metrics.
Set up a performance indicator, so employees know the goals they are required to reach. They will be more accountable when they have clear guidelines on their deliverables. You can track time and progress through technology and know what projects each remote employee is working on. Make sure you interact with them and set expectations with one-on-one communication, as this is also a way to evaluate their performance.
4. Keep remote work scheduled
Your in-house employees punch a clock and put their 8 hours daily during regular business hours. For remote employees, it can be a different story. They may be living in different time zones or want to be flexible in their work hours, but that may not be the best way to conduct your business.
Working from home can blur the lines between business and leisure and family and house duties, leading to less focus and productivity. The life of a digital nomad may not be any better if they can’t commit to a set period for their work duties while they travel the globe.
Have your remote employee’s schedule available times when they can work. Make sure to interact with them during this time, so they know they are being monitored and need to be productive while on the job. Remote workers have difficulty disconnecting from work because they mix personal life with work life. You need to be somewhat flexible with them while at the same time keeping them accountable.
5. Effectively deal with employee isolation and loneliness
Remote work is like being in a vacuum because you are not in an office environment, around other employees. It can be difficult for some people to cope with this work style, and they may experience burnout and be less productive.
Some great ways to help remote staff function better include:
- Assign A Mentor: This is another employee who can support each remote worker to keep them engaged and have a personal and professional connection.
- Virtual Conferences: Set up speakers not only for learning but for team building and fun too. This brings all employees together virtually.
- Virtual Water Cooler: Through your employee communication software, you can have a virtual meeting room where employees can interact and catch up with each other. This gives them a place to vent and socialize.
- Employee Recognition: Reward employees for great work with messages and even gifts. Give out company swag, so they feel valued and appreciated.
Managing remote employees can be challenging, but this is the way business is changing. Implement these strategies to empower your workforce and enjoy the fruits of their remote labour.
