Up until recently, many companies have been resistant to the shift toward having remote employees.  Many companies were unprepared for long-term remote working, while others transitioned flawlessly. Whether you’re new to working from home, or you’ve been at it for a while, there are some points to consider if you want a happy, productive team. 

Communication  

Feedback is an essential and necessary element of communication. People appreciate acknowledgment when they’re doing well. They also like being made aware of the areas they need to improve. Set up a regular one-on-one with your team members, if possible.  

Also, having a way to communicate in ‘real time,’ whether it’s in an office or over the computer is equally crucial for both productivity and efficiency. It enables coworkers to create camaraderie, which allows for culture building and collaboration.  

Communication is a major component of running an effective remote employee-based business. As a manager, it’s up to you to empower your team, from their relationships to their productivity. 

Boundaries  

Studies have shown that remote workers are more productive. Employees work for longer stretches throughout the day. Often those extra moments add up to a full day of work. Encourage employees to have work-life balance by putting boundaries in place. Let your team know it’s ok to shut down after the predetermined amount of hours. It alleviates any guilt the employees might feel.  

Progress 

To set your remote teams up for success, processes must be in place. Clearly define your company or team objectives. Clear and measurable milestones allow each employee to measure their progress while also being able to see what their coworkers are doing. Expectations need to be clear if you want to encourage success. 

Using a project management tool like JIRA, Asana or Trello can help layout and track the progress of processes.  

Facetime  

Where one-on-one meetings are imperative, it’s equally important to have face-to-face conversations. It brings more of a human connection to the team. Very often, remote working means coworkers are in different cities, making in-person meetings a geographical pain in the neck. But technology now allows you to set up virtual check-ins with your teams. It’s important to nurture and encourage continuous communication.  

Whenever possible, and if it’s at all plausible, set up in-person team building events. If your company is fully remote all the time, these team-building events can take place over Zoom. Think after-work happy hour or game night. It’s all about staying connected. 

Tools for Remote Employees 

Choosing the right tools can be a process of trial and error. One tool recommendation would be a CRM to strengthen teams through collaboration, efficiency, and productivity. CRMs allow goal tracking, inventory and client management, automation, and so much more. With the right one, like Workd, all you’ll need is one tool, and it’s customizable to fit your company’s needs.