Today’s digital workplace has placed many workers on remote assignments. Remote work can be rewarding for employees and help them have a better work and life balance. It can also be more cost-effective for employers who want to save on facilities costs. To create a successful team of remote workers, businesses need to have a solid plan for managing their workforce. The key is to avoid having too heavy of a hand in your management style with micromanaging. Here are six tips for managing your employees effectively.
1. Setup Weekly Sync Ups
Whenever you have a remote team, you should aim to keep in touch on a frequent basis. One way to check in each week with your team is to have periodic meetings. Use a virtual office backgrounds format to make it convenient for everyone on your staff.
2. Use Project Management Tools
Managers should also look into project management tools to help them stay organized and know exactly what is going on with each person on the team. Project management software that incorporates each employee’s task completion and their overall progress gives managers a way to check up on people without micromanaging.
3. Have In-Person Meetings
Remote workers also need some in-person time to help truly connect with their team and improve accountability. Whenever possible, schedule some in-person meetings or events with the people you are managing to get some face-to-face time. If you have a force of workers around the world, you can try to bring people together on your site at least once a year. Making your employees feel valued with that in-person time may help improve morale and get more results.
4. Be Flexible and Welcoming
A strong manager also has to have plenty of flexibility. Managers need to throw out their blanket set of rules and regulations and understand that life sometimes gets in the way. When you have virtual meetings, use a Teams virtual background and other tools to help make your staff feel more comfortable and more welcome. Make it a point to get to know the people on your team and understand their unique situations.
5. Set Expectations Early
Next, make sure your company sets the expectation for performance early. When you first bring someone on board, invest in quality training so your new employee understands what to do and what they will be held accountable for. During the first few months of their time in their position, check in to make sure they continue to understand the expectations. This approach can also help prevent misunderstandings about the employee’s role and their responsibilities.
6. Improve Recruiting Processes
The last way to help manage employees more efficiently and prevent micromanaging is to improve your recruiting process. Focus on finding the right kind of employees and use vetting strategies to make sure they have the ability to work remotely and independently. Use plenty of virtual interview meetings with a custom Google meet background to get an idea of who they are.
If you want to improve your efficiency, you have to come up with creative ways to manage your staff. Avoid micromanaging with these helpful strategies.
