4 Tips for Managing Remote Employees

The traditional work environment is rapidly changing. Many companies have opted to save big money by trading in their office space and allowing employees to work remotely. Not only does this cut major costs, it also makes it possible to utilize talent from around the globe. If your company has already taken this measure, you’ve probably realized that it takes a different approach to manage remote employees than those working on-site.

Related: Managing the Remote Workplace

Traditional management techniques need to be altered when you can’t walk over to an employee’s desk to ask them a question or call them into your office for a meeting. It’s important to make the necessary adjustments, so your team can thrive from anywhere.

Need a little help managing a team of people working from home? Incorporate these four techniques into your approach to see an impact:

1. Schedule Frequent Video Calls. A face-to-face connection with your team is invaluable. Meetings feel so much more personal when you can see each other’s faces. Plus, it’s easy for miscommunication to happen over email, chat or the phone when you can’t see the visual cues the other person is sending. If possible, hold video meetings every day or at least a few times per week.
2. Build a Rapport. In a traditional office environment, employees talk about their weekends, their families, upcoming vacations and other pressing issues in their lives. This may seem like idle small talk, but it actually helps you establish a sense of camaraderie that makes your team stronger. Take the time to regularly engage in small talk with your team to build a solid relationship.
3. Make Yourself Available. It’s easy for remote employees to feel isolated and alone, so don’t contribute to this by never being around when they need you. Make a point to pick up the phone when they call and promptly respond to messages. It can be easy to forget you’re part of a team if it’s difficult to get in touch with your boss when you have questions, comments and concerns.
4. Be Cognizant of their Time Zone. If your team is spread out across time zones, it’s important to plan meetings and other correspondence accordingly. It’s not fair to expect someone to attend a 4 a.m. meeting or to respond to your messages when it’s 9 p.m. where they live. It can be difficult enough for remote employees to separate their personal and professional lives, so don’t make it even harder.

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