Remote work has become the new norm in recent times as a result of COVID-19. It has been a success for many companies that plan to continue with this way of working once the pandemic is over, while others are adopting a hybrid model. Remote work can benefit both the business and employees, but it is important that managers know how to manage and get the most out of remote staff as it is quite different from managing a team in an office. Keep reading to discover a few helpful tips for managing a remote teams that will hopefully help you and your staff to get the most out of this way of working.
Establish What Is Expected
First, you need to establish what is expected from your remote workers and what the rules are. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no issues, such as trying to get hold of staff while they have popped out.
Learn People’s Preferred Way of Working
Everyone is slightly different when it comes to remote work. Some people will want to keep in close communication with video conferencing calls throughout the day, while others will prefer to be left alone, with email being the best way to get in touch. As a manager, you need to allow people to choose their preferred way of working so that everyone can enjoy remote work and perform to their potential each day.
Maintain Communication
It is vital that you maintain solid communication and check in on a regular basis – remote work can be isolating, and it is easy for people to feel disconnected from their colleagues. This is why many find it helpful to arrange informal virtual events, such as after-work drinks on a video call on Fridays. You should also be giving positive feedback on a regular basis as otherwise, staff might worry about their performance.
Use Business Management Software
Managing a remote team is a new challenge that will require different software and tools. Business management software with task utilization features from specialists like CoAmplifi can make managing a remote team much easier and help you with task management, which should improve performance and keep productivity levels high.
Make Yourself Available
It is hard to find the right balance when managing a remote team as you will want to avoid micromanaging while still making sure that work is being done. On the other side, employees need to know that they can reach you if they have a question or issue as otherwise, performance could dip, and they could feel isolated. This is why you need to make yourself available, whether this is on the phone or by using a group chat platform.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to manage a remote team and get the most out of your workers. This is a new challenge for managers, but it can be easy to get the hang of, and when you know how to successfully manage a remote team, this will allow everyone to get the most out of this way of working.