Think about it: have you ever had a conversation with a co-worker where you discovered that the two of you had a lot more in common than you expected? Perhaps you received a gift from a boss that proved he/she cared? These “human” moments are what make a team so great.
There is some belief that human connection can’t happen with remote workers and because of this, many remote workers feel like they’re not really a part of the team. If they feel neglected, they will likely not give their best effort. Many managers often equate this with a lack of compatibility with the company.
However, since the pandemic has caused remote work to become the norm, more effort is required to manage them and understand their needs. In this article, we’ll offer you 10 tips to create efficient remote workers.
10 Tips
Put effort into recruiting
Don’t just recruit workers willy-nilly. Instead, make sure that you’re taking the time and making the effort to recruit people with experiences, talents, and skills that are complementary. Things to consider are personality, mindsets, and attitudes that promote autonomy, spark ideas, and control friction.
Implement an effective onboarding process
Once you hire someone, provide them with an orientation program that explains the history, visions, and goals of the company. Make sure they understand their functions and how they fit into the big picture.
Build consistent processes/methodologies
This is what you will use to measure the performance of your employees. Everyone- new hires and veterans in the company- need to be on the same page about what they need to do whether they’re dealing with irate customers or handling internal queries. When you have standards in place, it also streamlines work and improves efficiency.
Set expectations/expect accountability
Autonomy and accountability are interconnected. One way to allow both is to set clear expectations. Efficient remote workers are aware of what times they need to be available and the quality of work that is expected. This is another area where the onboarding process and awareness of how they fit into the big picture can help.
Build a culture that thrives
It’s important to understand that remote workers are not zombies that enjoy being stuck at their computers all day. They are real people who want to be a part of an engaging work atmosphere. While the watercooler chats can’t really happen, you can offer video chats, communication boards, pre-planned hangouts, and more to make remote workers feel like part of the team.
Utilize the right tools
Efficient remote workers need access to tools that can help them work effectively. At the very least, consider using the following to manage your remote employees:
These tools can be used to make remote work much more efficient and effective.
Keep time zones in mind
Avoid letting time zone differences be a problem. Allow your efficient remote workers to work when they are most productive. This may mean them starting their day earlier or later than you. Be sure to make time for team collaboration, as well as meeting with each employee one-on-one. If you can switch schedules around so that no one ends up stuck in an inconvenient routine.
Encourage team members to give/receive feedback
One of the great things about having an open culture is that anyone can ask for help or give feedback to anyone. Make sure you are encouraging your remote team members to give and receive feedback respectfully.
Be open
You’ve hired the best person for the position. You’ve put them through your company orientation. Now, it’s time to set them free and see what they can do. Keep in mind that if you micro-manage them, you undermine their sense of responsibility. Trust that they will follow through and give them the freedom to work in a way that works for them. Finally, allow mistakes- they will help the employees to learn.
Don’t forget to be personable
The most important principle to managing your efficient remote workers is to care about them. This can turn a group of people huddled over a project into a group of leaders who are helping your company grow. When your employees know that they are important, it makes a difference.
Conclusion
Now that remote work is becoming the norm, these tips are more important than ever, and in case you didn’t notice, many of them lead back to communication, which is required for a well-functioning team, remote or not. If you need more help managing your remote team, contact Jasema Capital for more information.