With technology bringing people closer together, and more and more people desiring to have flexible options for work, it’s imperative that you know how to get everyone working together as if they were all in the same building. Fortunately, there are ways to make this happen successfully, allowing for a better work-life balance for employees and a much larger pool of talent for you to bring to your team.
First of all, consider both the pros and the cons. As mentioned, allowing for remote work lets you choose from a wide group of candidates and actually allows for more efficiency because each person focuses on his own work rather than getting distracted by co-workers. On the other hand, there’s something to be said for in-person camaraderie and having the ability to learn from each other in the moment. So how do you make it work?
Hire the right people for the job
You need to find people who have more intrinsic motivation, who don’t need a boss or manager in the same room to get them to do the work. You also need workers who can still foster strong relationships with co-workers and clients remotely, as well as get their work done efficiently.
Make a work plan
Whether you’re in an office or at home in your sweats, work hours still remain in effect. Let your employees know that by putting together a daily or weekly assignment plan that lets them know of deadlines and assignments to complete. Use some sort of project management system to keep track of everything (such as Asana or TeamworkPM)
Find time for face time
Even if it’s virtual only, make time to see each others’ faces on a regular basis, particularly considering so much information come through nonverbal cues. Plus it brings employees together, literally and figuratively, even if it’s just through Skype or Google Hangout and not in real life. Additionally, you can plan company retreats once or twice a year that get the employees together face-to-face for a different level of communication.
Clarify intentions
You want to make sure employees know you have certain expectations that they have to meet and appreciate, so use your work plan (as mentioned above) and strong communication via phone, email, and video chats to voice them. On the other side of that, make sure you understand your employees in terms of what they want moving forward in the company. Check in to discuss their taking on more responsibility or a new position. Clear communication in general is key to a successful remote team.
Managing a remote team can be a delicate balance, but it can also yield great results. For help with yours, visit PrideStaff.
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