Keeping your remote employees working productively is one of the biggest challenges in modern management. The good news is that, if you put in the effort to learn how to best manage your remote employees, then everything will just fall into place. And it’s not all on you – there are plenty of technological solutions that can make the process much easier.
1. Onboarding Your Employees
First and foremost, when recruiting new members, make sure to explain what you expect from them. What are your expectations for their work? Do you have a strong preference for one communication method over another? Are there any special skill sets or knowledge that they must possess before working with the team?
It is also up to you, as the manager, to be clear about how much support and guidance they will need to function efficiently. You know your team, your office culture, and your processes better than anyone. Make sure that you offer your employees enough training and guidance so that they can be effective from day one.
Onboarding is the most crucial part of the process. It is all too common for companies to forget how difficult it can be for new employees, especially remote employees, to get acclimated to their surroundings. With that in mind, make sure you are there to offer them guidance and support every step of the way.
2. Have Pre-approved Computer Programs
If someone needs special software to perform their job duties, make it available to them before they start. Arrange to have any necessary programs installed on their computers or smartphones, and make sure that everyone is using the same chat service or app for communication.
Technology is a huge part of the picture, so make sure to have your employees sign off on systems before they even begin working. If you want to have a better overview of what they’re doing, try employee monitoring software. It provides you with an easy way to know everything your remote employees are doing, so it’s never difficult to keep them working productively. It will allow you to keep your operations and projects on time and on budget while getting rid of unnecessary issues. While it’s not the only software you should consider using, it is a great place to start. The kind of technology you use will depend on your company culture and structure, so the only way to figure out what works is by doing a little research and testing.
3. Establish A Strong Chain Of Communication
Remote working is absolutely nothing without communication. You need your employees to be constantly talking about what they are doing so you can effectively supervise their work. Make sure that everyone has an email address, IM services, and phone number so you can get in touch with them whenever necessary.
Additionally, it’s important to have a weekly check-in meeting where everyone goes over what they are working on and whether or not there are any issues that need attention. Make sure that your employees feel comfortable speaking up when something is wrong. If someone needs more training or guidance, make sure to let them know upfront so there are no problems down the road.
Of course, it is possible for this meeting to take place via video conference if you prefer. There’s never a good time of day for everyone to be available, after all! Either way, you want to make sure that you understand what your remote employees are working on.
4. Create A Standard Schedule
Having a standard schedule is important for keeping your remote employees productive. They need to know when they can expect to receive training, feedback, and guidance so that they can plan their work accordingly.
This can help them focus on getting everything done rather quickly and easily. It is also a good idea to have all of you workers on the same schedule so that teamwork does not have to suffer from time zone issues. In many cases, you’ll find that a rotating schedule works best for everyone involved. Your employees can work a few days in a row and then have a day off, ensuring they keep track of what is going on with the team while being able to relax.
If you notice any problems with the schedule, such as an employee failing to communicate or not completing their work on time, then don’t hesitate to sit them down and ask what’s wrong. It’s better to ask than let the problem fester until it becomes unmanageable.
It is important for you to always keep your employees’ best interests at heart. You want everyone who works for you to be able to get their job done without feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Once they are comfortable with the system, you’ll find that this can result in better overall output and increased productivity levels. You can implement individual changes we’ve mentioned, or a combination of these strategies, to ensure your remote employees are working efficiently. Whatever you do, make sure that your employees know you care about their well-being and happiness.