Many managers find themselves managing a large team of remote workers, and this could continue for the foreseeable future. The novelty of remote work is waring off now for many, which could be impacting performance and morale. This is why it is so important for managers to know the best way to manage remote employees so that they can get the most out of staff, keep them happy and keep engagement levels high. It can be tricky, but there are a few important tips that should help you to find success managing remote employees and allow people to enjoy the benefits that it can bring.
Avoid Micromanaging
First, it is important to avoid micromanaging. This is the biggest mistake that managers make, which could be frustrating staff and not allowing them to enjoy the perks of remote work. Instead of constantly checking in, encourage autonomy and put trust in your team to get the work done. While you need to avoid micromanaging, you do need to make sure that you are easy to contact throughout the day if your team needs support.
Give Positive Feedback
It can be very easy for a remote worker to feel disengaged when they are working remotely and not seeing their colleagues. One of the best ways to prevent this is to give regular positive feedback, which will help staff to feel important, valued, and connected to the company.
Find Ways To Unite Staff
Following on from this, it is also important to find ways to unite your staff to prevent isolation and loneliness. You can host virtual events, but it is also a good idea to plan in-person social events from time to time. You should also create a regular newsletter that could help people to feel more engaged and part of a team.
Learn People’s Best Way Of Working
It is challenging as a manager, but it is important to recognize that everyone is different when it comes to remote work. Some of your team members are likely going to want to touch base throughout the day and stay in close contact, while others will prefer to be left alone with email being the best way to stay in touch. Try and find out people’s preferred way of working and allow them to do this to keep everyone happy.
Use Business SMS For Digital Comms
Following this, you might find that digital comms is a challenge when you have an entire team of remote workers. You can use business SMS services from companies like Boomerang Messaging to improve digital comms as business SMS has the best delivery success by far and will make it quick and easy to get a message out to your entire team.
These tips should make it easier for you to manage a remote team and get the most out of your employees. Managing a remote team can be tough, especially now that the novelty is wearing off, but it is possible to get the most out of your team and allow people to enjoy the benefits that remote work can bring.
