The challenges of managing remote employees can be vast, but it’s possible to create a positive and productive work environment, even if your team is fully remote.. With the right strategies and systems, you’ll effectively be managing remote employees and delivering the best results for your organization.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed how companies view remote work. In 2020, remote work rose from 4.7% to 61%, with 30% still working from home today. Many workplaces have implemented a hybrid work environment, allowing employees to work from home part time while still coming into the office a few days a week. It may have been challenging figuring it out so suddenly, but many companies are embracing the change and keeping a remote work environment.
Moving to a Remote Working Environment
Companies that previously were in the office full time had difficulties transitioning to remote working environments. With the shutdowns happening so suddenly, there was little time to implement the systems needed to function effectively as a remote team. The experience left teams scrambling for solutions.
But remote work does have it’s benefits, for both employees and companies. Employees enjoy the freedom to manage their time and create a better work-life balance, while companies save on overhead and increase capacity to connect with clients in all geographic areas. Plus, they no longer have to commute!
Companies benefit for several reasons. Moving to a fully remote work environment can reduce the need and cost of office space. Also, a study found that remote employees are more productive than in-office employees by 47%. Without the distractions of chatting with coworkers or going out to lunch, employees tend to be more focused and work longer at home.
It does take some time and effort to transition a team to a virtual office, but the following nine tips should help you get there.
9 Tips For Managing Remote Employees
1. Schedule Regular Meeting Check-ins
Working remotely naturally causes some disconnect between team members. To avoid this, schedule regular meetings to check in with individuals and the entire team. Give employees the opportunity to update the team on their projects and ask for feedback or assistance.
2. Have a System for Two-Way Feedback
Implement a system for providing feedback to employees and vice versa. Employees should be allowed to provide feedback on how their managers are handling the remote workplace. Offer an option to send feedback anonymously, as some people may feel uncomfortable offering constructive criticism.
3. Use Technology to Collaborate with Colleagues
There are many tools to manage remote employees, and that’s good because you’ll probably need a few different platforms and will want options to ensure a good fit for your team. We recommend using a communication platform like Microsoft Teams or Slack. You also need a task management system to keep track of the various projects happening simultaneously throughout the organization. Tools like Trello, Asana, and ClickUp are perfect for this purpose.
4. Encourage Team Building
Team building is still fun when done remotely! Here are some ideas for your next team-building event to strengthen virtual employee engagement:
- Virtual coworking sessions
- Lunch-and-learn events
- Remote Jeopardy
- Fantasy football
- March Madness brackets
- Virtual happy hour
5. Find Ways to Maintain Company Culture
Virtual employee engagement is key to maintaining a strong team. Encourage informal interactions between employees to learn more about each other. Employees who feel connected and comfortable are better prepared to collaborate and support one another professionally.
6. Trust Your Employees
Resist the temptation to micromanage. Trusting people to fulfill their job responsibilities virtually will show how much you value your employees. Give them the space to prove they can work effectively from home. Start by setting expectations for employees working virtually. If their work starts to slack or you find they aren’t available like they should be, you can step in as a manager and offer guidance.
7. Be Flexible
People have things come up, whether they’re in the office or at home. Be flexible if someone needs to end their work day a little early or they need to pick up a child from school. One of the best parts of working from home is employees have the flexibility to manage their schedule as they see fit. As we mentioned earlier, many remote employees end up working longer hours when working from home, so don’t sweat the 15 minutes they were offline.
8. Celebrate Success
Celebrating the success of colleagues strengthens the company culture. Find ways to celebrate wins throughout the company. A few ideas are:
- Highlighting someone on social media
- Sending an email to the team announcing the accomplishment
- Offering monetary rewards
Don’t forget about personal successes, too! If someone just got engaged, had a baby, or bought a new house, offer congratulations. You’ll feel more connected to your coworkers when you’re aware of the highlights in their lives.
9. Focus on Individual Needs
Working remotely can feel isolating. As a manager, it’s your role to ensure each employee succeeds in their role, feels valued and appreciated, and is happy. Check in with them outside of your regularly scheduled meetings to see how they’re doing and if you can provide additional support.
Using Video for an Easy Transition to Remote Work
We know of the challenges of managing remote employees. Having an asynchronous and accessible strategy, like videos and digital presentations, can aid in creating a cohesive and successful working environment. It’s quick and easy to share information or demonstrate a new system with the entire company.
Video is also great for onboarding new employees. It can be reused for each new hire, and it reduces the need to repeat information. With the ability to create new videos quickly and deliver the content at scale, video is one of the best tools to manage remote employees.
Managing remote employees can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible to overcome. With the world moving more and more towards a permanent work environment, it’s time to adjust. If your company is struggling with the challenges of managing remote employees, contact Reimagined Experiences today. We’ll teach you how to use technology for managing remote employees.
