6 Simple practices for easier management of your remote workforce

We live in challenging times and it would be a lie if we say that managing a remote workforce doesn’t come with challenges of its own. 

What often makes a challenge turn into an ordeal is not having clear structure and vision on how to tackle it. So, by implementing the right tactics and processes now could prove a “life-saver” for both your business and your employees. 

At the very core of clear processes and seamless implementation of practices stands the good old trio: communication, trust and transparency. Communication as the means to establish the trust you will need in the long run, transparency to strengthen trust. It is also important to maintain trust since the lack of it may endanger company culture, or even worse, hamper the operation of your business. 

As you can see, there is no special secret waiting to be discovered about managing your remote workers. Through the years we’ve managed to learn a thing or two about it and apply it to our daily practices. Here’s our two cents: 

Talk, talk, talk 

Communication is crucial for remote employees. Establish best channels for different types of communication from the very start, this will pave the path for easier resolution of issues later on. Remember, if employees feel like they can approach you or a team-member from the very start about their challenges, it will leave them feeling empowered and more motivated. 

Set guidelines/structure  

It is quite easy to get into the habit of overworking or working during hours when everyone’s off. Always have a clear structure of working hours and set expected times when employees need to be online, send emails, or communicate with customers/clients. Internal communication can usually take place via chat, messenger etc. While urgent matters can be raised by phone.  

Encourage new hires to ask questions 

New employees will often be reluctant to ask questions. Reassure them that asking questions is a great skill which will contribute to their great performance. Highlighting the importance of questioning will improve communication and strengthen the employer-employee relationship. 

Focus on the objectives instead of the working hours  

According to studies conducted in the past few months remote workers are as productive as those working in an office (https://www.apollotechnical.com/working-from-home-productivity-statistics/). Make sure that your employees know what they should work on and when it should be delivered. Leave the rest to them, everyone is feeling more relaxed and happy when they know that their job is clearly delivering value and is therefore worthwhile.  

Remain flexible 

Assign work to your team according to their skills and strengths. Setting clear expectations is always a good idea and will prevent remote workers from getting exhausted both physically and mentally. 

Find the right balance 

Don’t spend too much or too little time on calls with the team. Spending too much time might mean you’re into micromanaging, while spending too little time might make someone feel left out. Always bear in mind that it’s good to have weekly or bi-weekly catch ups where informal topics are discussed and employees are encouraged to speak up, or have the freedom to be themselves, speak about recent projects, travels, pets, day-to-day activities etc. 

Many would like to think that all remote workers do is check random emails or spend all day chilling in their pyjamas. The real story is, they may have their pyjamas on, but will work as hard as if they were in your office if you stick to your vision and implement the right tactics and processes whenever possible.