Early 2020 saw a huge shift in the way that people worked, as many businesses found themselves having to adopt a remote working model for the first time. While the mass move to remote working was thought by many to threaten the productivity and efficiency of many companies, the opposite effect actually occurred. Many companies found themselves operating at a much higher rate of efficiency with a remote working model. This means that many companies are looking to continue with a remote working model full-time.
If you are looking to continue managing a remote staff team full time, this guide is here to help you learn the very best tips.
1. Set Up Virtual Events
One of the biggest struggles related to managing a remote staff team is trying to create a collective sense of morale. Morale and creating strong working relationships within your organization is essential as it can positively affect innovation and productivity. Using a virtual event platform allows managers to more easily create, manage and unite a team of staff.
2. Be Aware of Personal Needs
When you are managing a remote team of staff, it is important that you remain conscious of individual employees’ needs. All individuals work; differently, some people will be more productive in the morning times whereas some individuals are at their most productive in the evening. Being aware of the individual needs of staff and being sensitive to this when it is appropriate for the overall business will help you to further benefit from the increased output.
3. Set Up Clear Communication Channels
While remote working has been found to hugely benefit productivity and working efficiency rates for many businesses, this is threatened when businesses do not use clear communication channels. Using communication software that is appropriate to your company and staff needs is essential for successfully managing a remote team of staff. Not only will you need an appropriate communication channel, but you will also need to train staff on how to use this software to ensure the highest return on your investment.
4. Set Clear Expectations
When you are assigning new work or hiring new staff, it is important that you set clear expectations. No matter how successful your communication channels might be, you will not gain the highest efficiency rates if the remote staff does not have clear expectations.
Managers should create clear guidelines and boundaries for all remote staff. This will help staff clearly understand what expectations and behavior is expected of them.
5. Track Progress
One of the challenges of managing a remote team can be staying up to date with all the progress that is being made. Using project management software can be hugely beneficial to managers of remote teams. Project management software will enable you to keep up to date with all the progress that has been made as staff tracks their development. Having access to this software will enable you to remain informed, and spot potential drains on efficiency before they are able to fully take hold.
