Whether your entire workforce is remote or you only have a handful of employees that work from home, adapting to this way of operating a business takes time and effort.
In any case, the following blog is exactly what you need if you are currently trying to manage a remote workforce and are finding it challenging. From being flexible to ensuring your tech is up to the job, read on to discover five tips for managing a remote team.
- Be Clear on Your Expectations
While you don’t want to fall into the trap of micromanaging your remote team, you do need to be clear about what you expect from them. Be transparent about your expectations from the get-go and try to focus on long-term results rather than daily activity.
You have to trust your remote workers, or you won’t be able to run a successful remote team.
- Be Flexible
One of the best aspects of being a remote worker is working around other commitments such as childcare. Therefore, as a business owner with a remote workforce, you need to be prepared to be flexible.
Of course, this will depend on the nature of your business; however, if you can, allow your employees to set their own hours within reason and adjust these as and when you need to.
- Invest in the Right Technology
Nothing is worse than being a remote worker with a poor internet connection or outdated technology. Not only is it frustrating for your teams, but it can also cost you a lot of money as a business owner due to a decline in productivity, which the woes of tech troubles have hindered.
As well as ensuring your remote team has all the equipment they need to do their job properly, you also need to provide them with support. For example, coaching or training your employees on how to use new programs and technologies is crucial to their success and, thus, your business’s.
- Focus on Communication
One of the biggest challenges of managing a remote workforce is keeping the lines of communication open. In a physical office, you can organise meetings, chat over the water cooler and arrange team-building activities. However, when your team works remotely, you can’t do any of these things.
As such, you need to find other ways to keep your team connected or risk people feeling unsupported and isolated. For instance, make sure you have a system that allows you to share files and documents with ease and organise online team-building activities.
- Use Virtual Office Services
If you don’t have a physical office, then Virtual Office Services are a must. A virtual office gives your business a physical address and office-related services without the expense of leasing an office.
This allows your employees to work from anywhere but still have access to necessities such as phone answering services, meeting rooms and video conferencing.
And there you have it – five top tips for managing a successful and happy remote workforce. Good luck, and remember to put your trust in your team!