In today’s environment, more and more employees are looking for remote job opportunities. Your business can benefit from this arrangement as it allows you to find talent all over the globe, utilizing skills from a diverse group of individuals.
Managing a remote team can be a challenge if you don’t employ the right techniques. This can cause your remote employees to lose their motivation and fall behind in their job responsibilities. Just like an in-office employee, your remote staff needs to feel appreciated and know that you recognize their abilities. Keep these tips in mind for an effective way to manage your remote employees to keep them in the game, engaged, and above all happy.
Ask How They Are Doing
It can be easy to send out that urgent email without any pleasantries attached to it to a remote team member. But, what you don’t know is their expression on the other side of the screen when they read it. Take some time to ask them how they are doing, what they have been up to or what their weekend plans are. Showing you are personally concerned about their well-being can go a long way with an employee that is thousands of miles away.
Connect With Them Daily
Just because you are in another time zone, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak to your remote staff each day. Stay connected. Check in on them daily. Use video and messenger platforms such as Skype, Slack or Google Hangouts to conference everyone in. Every member of the team should know each other, see each other’s’ faces, and hear each other’s’ voices. Hiding behind email doesn’t do your staff justice and will have team members feeling lonely and left out.
Schedule One-On-One Meetings
Give each of your employees your undivided attention at least once a week. Use this time to find out if they have any questions or concerns that need to be addressed. It can be easy for a remote employee to get lost in the shuffle and feel intimidated to bring up issues that they are having. Don’t let them flounder, draw them in and make these meetings about them without pressure or expectations.
Accommodate Their Schedules
With your remote employees spread out, it can be difficult to get everyone together at a decent hour. It may be the middle of the night for one and early in the morning for another. Switch it up, so one employee isn’t always getting the short end of the stick. Use a rotating schedule and try to pick a time that doesn’t interfere with their personal life. Your employees will thank you for the reprieve and be more apt to attend.
Allow For Growth
Be sure to think about the goals your employees have. Sure, they may be content in their current role, but maybe they would like to do more or something different. Keep them in mind as your business grows as they are valuable members of your team, even if they are physically sitting right next to you. When an opportunity arises offer it to remote staff when possible, and you’ll see a whole new level of effort out of them.
Celebrate Your Successes Together
Get together once a year for a grand celebration. This small token of appreciation will let your remote staff know you truly care about them and value their talents. Plus, this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate all the milestones you have achieved together as a team throughout the current year. Holidays are the perfect time for such an event, and it will give everyone a chance to mingle and meet.
Managing remote staff may take a little more effort on your part, but with some careful planning and coordination, you can help inspire some ambition in your team. When you are looking to staff your remote positions, contact the consultants at Resolute Technologies. We can guide you through the hiring process and help you manage your remote employees effectively and efficiently.