Best Practices for Managing Remote Employees

Many well-known organizations have witnessed success with their remote teams, and some have become 100 percent remote companies. So, are you ready to achieve this? Here are some effective practices for managing a remote team.

• Set Clear Expectations

  More than 32 percent of remote employees agree that transparency creates a feeling of connectedness at work. You can maintain transparency by establishing clear regulations for all. Set expectations and boundaries for remote teams. Communicate the company’s vision and mission clearly. Ensure that every employee understands their individual goals as well as team goals. 

  One of the most effective ways to implement expectations is to organize a kick-off meeting and explain all procedures and policies to the remote team. After that, prefer to hold monthly or weekly meetings. 

• Use of The Right Tools

  Every employer should ensure that remote employees have access to the tools, information, and training they need to complete assigned tasks. Deploy the right tools to empower them. Use tools that support better engagement and collaboration. There are multiple tools that works best for project management like Trello, Asana, and Karya Keeper. Some tools aces at time and productivity tracking like Mera Monitor, worktime, and insightful. Use these tools to handle every task of a business wisely. From AP tools to IT tools for tech teams, the tools can simplify a lot of tasks. 

• Create Clear Policies for Remote Teams

  Don’t forget to establish a proper remote work policy for distant employees to maintain compliance. Besides, set clear guidelines. While making policies, ensure that they are tailored to the organization and the specific role of the employee. Implement policies for total work hours, compensation, use of office equipment, employee leave, security, etc.

• Hold Face-to-Face Meeting

  Meeting as a team or individually can offer a lot of benefits. With purposeful meetings, managers can create a strong work culture, boost engagement and develop rapport. Even though you have a remote team, arrange face-to-face meetings. You can use tools such as Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, etc. to discuss work progress, employees’ requirements, and much more. These practices make remote employees feel connected. Keep your meetings short but meaningful. 

• Create Space for Flexibility

  Every remote employee has a different work environment. Besides, some will have children and spouses while some won’t. While some employees will have a private workplace in their home, some will be attending meetings from a café or closet. Well, the point here is that managers need to understand such circumstances and allow flexibility. 

  For example, allowing employees to work at their desired time, setting reasonable timelines for tasks, etc. Just a little bit of flexibility can work like magic for remote employees. 

• Focus on Creating Streamlined Workflows

  It is common for a remote team to encounter various challenges when it comes to coordinating their tasks and staying on the right track. But you can avoid this by setting clear workflows. Besides, establish clear processes for every task. What’s more? You can also cut out unnecessary steps using modern tools to simplify some tasks for remote employees. With this, you can ensure that every task is completed on time and efficiently.

• Regular Performance Reviews

  Just like in-house teams, remote teams can also benefit from performance reviews. Regular performance checks will allow organizations to discuss clearly about work expectations and progress. Besides, it helps to identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, these reviews can keep employees and managers on the same page. Try to offer constructive feedback, as remote teams may lack in-person feedback which is common for in-house employees. 

• Create a Culture That Supports Work-Life Balance

  As remote employees are working remotely from various time zones, any notifications, emails, or chat messages can disturb their sleep. So, be conscious while setting meetings and deciding on working hours. Respect the time off of every remote employee. Just because these employees are not available physically in the workplace, that doesn’t mean they can be bothered or called on their leave. Show that you respect their time. With this, you can cultivate the trust factor and create positive relationships. 

• Encourage Social Interactions

  As per a survey conducted by Buffer, around 20 percent of remote employees deal with loneliness. Besides, 20 percent of them face challenges to communicate and collaborate. How do we avoid these issues? Encouraging social interactions can be an effective method for this. Set up coffee chats, organize team-building gaming sessions, keep fun Fridays for extracurricular activities, etc. for every employee to socialize and connect with others. 

• Offer Emotional Support

  Isolation can affect employees’ psychological health negatively. It is crucial for every manager to understand stress and listen to remote employees’ concerns and anxiety. Showing some empathy can also work great. Don’t depend on others to find out what’s going on with your employees. Go on and ask employees how they are doing. Listen to them actively. Don’t just listen; understand them and come up with the right solutions. 

• Celebrate Every Wins

  Achieving objectives and celebrating every milestone together is something that creates a perfect team. So, while managing a remote team, don’t let distance affect the ritual. Make an extra effort and recognize employees’ contributions. This act can keep your remote team motivated to give their best. You can organize virtual parties or send gifts to employee’s addresses. If possible, offer a bonus leave. Don’t postpone such celebrations. Celebrate both big and small wins. With this, remote employees will feel encouraged.