Recently, businesses have been compelled to innovate and reconsider how they operate. The trend toward working remotely is one significant change that is taking place. So, in these uncertain times, managing a remote team may make you feel overburdened.
The good news here is that working from home will probably increase team members’ productivity. In fact, 91% of employees say that having the option to work from home can increase their productivity. Having said that, it’s still crucial to provide your staff with guidelines while they work from home. The ideal methods for managing remote work are listed below.
Use Time-Tracking And Employee Monitoring Tools
It’s crucial to keep an eye on work when working with a remote team, especially if you have strict deadlines like a monthly delivery schedule. Utilize employee monitoring software to keep a close eye on the work being done. Time-tracking tools such as the one Workpuls offers can help you analyze and optimize the time spent on projects down to the second—allowing you to catch any issues early on.
For instance, a project might have taken longer than you anticipated. If that happens, you can reorganize your workload and assign tasks to ensure that the team member has enough time to finish a task that needs more time and resources. However, this will only be effective if you closely monitor the progress of your employees’ work.
Establish Rules That Apply To All
When they begin their remote journey, your employees will quickly become irritated if different rules apply to various people or departments. Make sure you establish clear guidelines for what is expected of your team when they are working remotely. Do you, for instance, set a deadline of 20 minutes or less for your employees to reply to your messages? Or do they have a deadline—say, 24 hours—by which they must reply to client emails?
It’s crucial to document these new work policies so that your employees understand what is expected of them when working remotely. Send out a document via email and ask for an electronic signature so you can verify that your staff members have read the new policies.
Shorten The Working Day
If your company is set up for it, it might make sense to loosen up your work schedule so that your staff members can work when it suits them. For instance, some of your staff members may rise early, whereas others may stay up late. If that’s the case, think about letting your team work during their peak natural productivity.
You can designate a time frame during which you anticipate your employees to be available if your business has set hours. However, if your employees are completing their work each day, let them work when they will be most productive.
Make Use Of Communication Resources
For managing your remote workforce, communication is going to be essential. Ensure that your staff has simple channels for communication. For instance, using Slack is a great way to communicate with staff members effectively throughout the day. Consider holding a weekly videoconference with your staff members to give them valuable one-on-one time and give them a chance to share any challenges or successes from the previous week.
Here are some suggestions to keep your employees on task if you’re unsure of what questions to ask them during one-on-one meetings: What are your priorities for work and projects this week? Do you have any inquiries regarding recent changes made by the business, department, or management? What were the highlights of your week? What presented you with a challenge? Do you have faith in your ability to meet deadlines on time?
Honor Personnel Efforts
If your team recently switched to working remotely, it’s more crucial than ever to make sure that their dedication is recognized. It’s crucial to let your employees know you appreciate them if they go above and beyond. Consider establishing a work-from-home employee of the month program, and encourage each of your staff members to submit a nomination.
This will not only give your department insight into what other employees are doing, but it will also motivate your staff to put in more effort. Even better, mail them a small gift basket filled with their preferred snacks, gift cards, and a handwritten note of appreciation.
Final Thoughts
While occasionally difficult, trying to maximize productivity with your remote team is a worthwhile endeavor. Before your remote workforce starts putting in more effort, all it takes is a few minor adjustments to your culture and management. Keep this article bookmarked for future reference as you optimize the various elements of your remote work culture to raise overall employee and financial productivity.
