The pandemic has pushed countless businesses of all sizes to reexamine the way they operate. For many, that has meant a shift to remote work. While this new reality presents some unique opportunities, it is also not without its challenges. However, with the right approach, businesses can build a highly productive, engaged, and loyal remote team. Here are the strategies that are crucial for successful remote workforce management.
Workforce Management in the Era of Remote Work
Ample Communication Technology
One of the greatest challenges of managing a remote team is maintaining communication and collaboration among employees. When everyone is in the same office, it’s easy to have impromptu meetings or pop into someone’s office for a quick chat. But when everyone is working remotely, there is far less opportunity for spontaneous communication. The best way to combat this is to provide ample communication technology options to your remote team.
This means having a secure, reliable messaging platform for employees to use for spur-of-the-moment, day-to-day communication as well as video conferencing software for more formal meetings. It’s also important to make sure that everyone on the team knows how to use the technology and that there is someone available to help with any technical issues that may arise.
Regular Check-Ins
Regular check-ins are crucial in managing remote employees. These can be done via email, messaging platforms, or video conferencing software and should be conducted on a daily basis, if possible. During these check-ins, business owners and managers should touch base with each employee about their work progress and any challenges they may be facing. This is also a good time to provide feedback and offer any assistance that may be needed.
Clear Expectations
One of the most important things you can do as a manager is to establish clear expectations with your employees. They should know exactly what is expected of them in terms of work hours, deadlines, and deliverables. If you can provide them with a clear roadmap, they will be much more likely to stay on track and meet business requirements.
Social Interaction
While working remotely has many advantages, it can also be very isolating for some people, particularly those not used to working from home. As such, business owners and managers should make an effort to promote social interaction among their team members. This can be done through regular video chats, virtual happy hours, or even just casual conversation during check-ins.
Regular Performance Reviews
Conducting regular performance reviews with remote employees helps ensure that everyone is meeting expectations and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner. These reviews can be conducted monthly or quarterly and should include both a review of recent work as well as goals for the future.
Performance reviews provide an opportunity for employees to get feedback on their work as well as receive recognition for their successes. They also give business owners and managers an opportunity to identify areas where employees may need additional support or training.
While remote work brings about new challenges for managers, these strategies can help. And with the right technologies and systems, managers can effectively oversee their remote employees just as well as an in-office team. Do you need help setting your remote team up for success? Contact us at Project Genetics today for a free 30-minute introductory call!
