4 Tips for Effectively Managing a Remote Workforce

Remote working, also known as telecommuting or working from home, is quickly becoming a significant trend across the globe. The number of managers and team leaders managing an entirely remote workforce is growing by the day.

This can be a challenge, especially if you and your team are doing it for the first time. Here are tips to help you and your teams succeed.

Assess Support Systems and Integrate Software Mechanism

Many companies don’t realize their tools and systems aren’t correctly integrated until remote workers face challenges. It’s important to understand that remote employees bring open, diverse work models and usage of systems.

According to the workplace transformation study of 2019, approximately 86% of remote employees are connected through instant messaging applications. Another 65% connect at least once weekly through video calls. Frequently it’s the remote workers who expose inadequately integrated processes and systems that result in reduced productivity.

For example, remote workers may have accessibility problems due to the VPN’s bandwidth. They could also face usability challenges with applications that hardly work outside the firewall. Sometimes it can be an unsuccessful combination of software tools. Some tools can help managers and team leaders to identify where the faulty processes and systems lie. These come in handy to help understand where employees are facing difficulties and how they can solve them.

Begin by establishing the company applications in use that may be limiting workflow. This way, companies can identify systems that can be eliminated to reduce license expenses and facilitate operations.

Organize to Receive Daily Updates

Managers and team-leaders can arrange face-to-face video meetings. Email and phone conversations are essential but not as effective as video calls. Remember, you need to see your remote team as much as they need to see you.

You can do this through virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom or Google Meets. Morning calls to outline everyone’s daily or weekly tasks and evening calls to discuss how everyone’s days went are a great way to get updates on not only how your team is feeling, but on how everyone is performing.

Communicate Regularly

Communication is a vital factor when it comes to remote working. This is especially true if your team is transitioning from working in an office setting to working from home. One of the biggest challenges that remote workers experience is loneliness. With regular communication, remote workers get encouraged to remain productive.

Keep in touch with your workforce with meetings, one-on-one calls (that don’t have to be all work-related!), and chat tools like Slack. This gives your team a sense of connectivity that is sometimes lacking in remote work environments.

Manage Expectations

Help your team to understand what they need to do and have practical expectations for their tasks. Remember, managing expectations will apply to the top management team as well.

You can set the entire team for success by defining tasks, explaining why they should be tackled, and outlining how you plan to evaluate progress and productivity. This would involve describing the operation, deadlines, and output for each project the team is working on. Doing so helps you to stay up to date with what everyone is doing. Combined with communication and regular updates, this is essential for workforce productivity.

Sweet Tips from Ally

1. Make sure your system can handle supporting your team from afar
2. Build a protocol for regular updates
3. Communication is key!
4. Keep realistic expectations

These tips should all help you make sure your newly remote team is as productive and effective as they were in the office. How do you manage your remote workforce?