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10 Tips For Successfully Managing Remote Employees

By | Alex Miller

In today’s business world, more and more employees are working remotely. This can present some challenges when it comes to managing these workers effectively. Here are 10 tips for successfully managing remote employees based on data and research:

  • Define expectations and roles clearly from the outset

Establishing clear expectations and roles at the outset of a project requires careful consideration, planning, and communication between you and your employees. Data from Fields et al. (2020) suggests that setting expectations early results in better outcomes. With sufficient clarity on objectives, timelines, and responsibilities, managers and teams are better positioned to accomplish desired results. 

Additionally, establishing proper expectations and roles can give your employees more autonomy within their scope of work but remain accountable throughout the process via clearly defined points of contact.

  • Over-communicate rather than under-communicate with remote workers

Managing remote workers can still be challenging despite the various work-from-home arrangements in the virtual workplace. Most companies make their best progress when managers prioritize open communication with their distributed teams. 

Organizations with an over-communication policy rather than an under-communication mindset experience more significant support from their employees, higher productivity levels on projects, and enhanced cooperation resulting in the successful completion of goals.

  • Set up regular check-ins

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Regular check-ins can help uncover trends or difficulties that could damage project completion. As such, consider employing strategies to boost employee morale, such as regularly checking in with your employees. Setting up periodic check-ins weekly or more frequently is critical for setting your staff up for success.

  • Use project management tools

Project management tools are immensely useful for businesses, as they help to monitor and schedule tasks more efficiently. They can also provide access to real-time data and an up-to-date view of projects’ status, inspiring trust and confidence in the relevant stakeholders while ensuring compliance with legal specifications. So by handling complex projects in a clear, organized manner through efficient project management tools, you can ensure that your goals are achieved on time and the company runs more efficiently.

  • Encourage social interaction

Social interaction in personal, professional, and educational growth is an important factor contributing to workplace productivity. Socializing engages all five senses – cognitive learning, aural listening, visual recognition, and interpersonal communication – creating an atmosphere of mutual benefit that builds strong and meaningful connections. So by encouraging and engaging in quality human interaction, your employees can open themselves up to invaluable opportunities for growth and learning.

  • Respect personal time and space

Respect for personal time and space should be a top priority in every workplace. Naturally, when individuals are given autonomy over their schedule, such as the flexibility to work from home or during nontraditional hours, they often report increased job satisfaction and performance. Giving your employees the freedom to create a schedule that works for them makes them more likely to take ownership and responsibility in their jobs. In addition, policies like flexible vacation time and sick leave can help cushion your employees from burnout by allowing them to take the necessary time away from their work.

  • Offer training and development opportunities

Training and development opportunities are important tools that every business should utilize. Whether it’s teaching your employees about the 

easiest loans to get approved for or helping them to understand a new app, training can be an invaluable investment in your company. 

Provide your employees an opportunity to grow within the company to ensure they perform better. Not only will they acquire new skills, but also experience greater job satisfaction, motivation, and even a commitment to the organization. 

  • Be flexible with hours and working arrangements

Flexibility in hours and working arrangements is one of the key contributors to the success of a remote business. You should give your staff the opportunity to adjust and shift their work patterns to accommodate their individual needs. For example, allow for breaks during work hours to enable them to feel refreshed and tackle projects with a clear mind. 

Flexibility can help increase productivity or staff retention, as it sends a message that they are valuable to the business. It can also open up a range of advantages, including improved morale, increased job satisfaction, and decreased stress levels – all leading to a healthier work-life balance.

  • Provide feedback regularly

Regular feedback is an important part of communication and management. Consistently providing clear, constructive feedback can lay the foundation for healthy relationships. Therefore, ensuring everyone remains informed, productive, and motivated is important. To provide effective feedback in a meaningful way, aim to identify behaviors and actions that need improvement or recognition, focus on desired outcomes, provide context, and identify ways to support your employees.

  • Celebrate successes together!

Celebrating successes can bring your team closer and make everyone feel appreciated. First, set goals with defined metrics of success to measure against. Then, ensure you recognize your successes as a team when you achieve them. Celebrating the small victories will encourage participation and engagement from everyone. 

You can improve your team’s productivity and communication by following the ten tips for better remote-team management listed above. These tips can be useful in avoiding the common pitfalls of managing a remote team and building a productive, cohesive unit. Remember, happy workers, beget productive workers! 

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