For many, working remotely in the comfort of their homes is a dream come true. For parents, working remotely allows them to spend more time with their family, especially their children, while for some people, it gives them a more flexible schedule and increased productivity.
This is because remote workers are likely to take a day off or work a full shift like others.
According to research, working remotely gives you the sense of concentration to work in the quiet and a suitable atmosphere for creative thinking.
However, despite all these changes in the workplace, managers face a difficult challenge when working with a remotely-based team.
Dealing with different time zones, gaining trust, and setting up meetings and deadlines have all become much harder tasks.
To help employers who deal with remote employees, we will provide some tips that will help you address the issues you are facing and overcome them, keeping your workplace running as smoothly as possible. Shall we?
Invest in Productivity Tools
It’s difficult to keep everyone on the same schedule and deadline and to ensure that work is done properly.
However, various productivity tools are available, which can help give extra abilities and also encourage the communication that is required when working together. Using various tools is better than sticking to one since they all have different functionality.
One of the best tools for increasing productivity among remote workers is Dropbox. It’s not just a cloud-based storage system for documents.
It encourages different people to work on the same file simultaneously. It is also a safe way to share files and allows the team to stay on the same page. If you want similar tools, you can choose Asana/Trello, Gmail, Slack, or Salesforce.
Communication is Key
One thing is certain about working as a team: everyone must be on the same page.
It is like a soccer game, where everyone plays based on one strategy by communicating with each other to achieve one goal: winning.
In management, this means sending and receiving texts, emails, and chats. They should encourage employees to ask questions and conduct weekly checkups to monitor their progress.
Face-to-face meetings should be scheduled if possible. Despite working in different time zones, make time for your employees. Tell them from the beginning if you can’t talk to your employees.
Focus on Goals
Often, the bigger picture can be lost in the daily fatigue of work, which results in the loss of efficiency and motivation.
To prevent this, try reminding your employees of their bigger goals and then setting smaller and achievable goals to help them achieve the bigger goals.
If you truly want to help them on their path to greatness, you can encourage them with a bonus whenever they meet their goal.
A monetary reward is an effective tool for productivity, but a better approach is to relate their work goals to their personal goals.
Let them know that every job is a learning experience, and your boss will most likely want you to up your game.
Connecting your employees’ interests and learning goals with the company’s goals can get their attention and also make them engaged and interested in their work.
Establish Clear Expectations
It might seem harsh, but you must set the rules immediately. Most times, there can be rules for communication, such as which platforms should be used and what sort of communication should be allowed, the preferred hours of communication, the frequency of the response, etc.
These rules should establish free time for your employees because making them feel like they are always working is a recipe for exhaustion and can lead to a loss of respect.
Feedback
Feedback can increase productivity. Your remote workers may likely want to know how they are doing, so it’s wise to give them feedback.
This will allow them to fix issues that may arise and to improve the next time they encounter a similar issue.
Although it is difficult for some employees to face criticism, as long as you tell them to fix the good with the bad, that should not pose too much of a problem.
Host Video Conferences
Another way to improve remote employees’ productivity is through video conferencing. It has the same advantages as in-person conferences, but it is more advisable for remote employees.
It’s important to see the faces of your employees even though you are not in the same room. You should hear their opinions in real-time.
This can encourage them to share their ideas and thoughts and make them feel comfortable discussing issues and asking for help.
Many remote workers feel left out and sometimes left behind, but a regular video chat can sort out that problem.
Having a face-to-face discussion with employees can help build trust and empathy and allow them to create stronger relationships.
There is a lot of software out there that can be used for this purpose, so this should not be frustrating. If you find yourself in a tight spot based on this, it means you are using the wrong one.
Remote employment has many advantages, which help overcome different obstacles. With the right management, remote workers can be productive, but it can also be difficult for managers to get to know and develop trust with their employees through a screen.
The key to overcoming this problem is clear communication, using the right tools, and establishing empathy. Accomplish all that, and your employees will feel like they never left the office.
