I’ve been a remote manager for the past six years. It wasn’t easy at first, especially when almost all of my coworkers shared an office. The thrill of working from home or at my favorite coffee shop began to wear off after approximately three months. I began to miss the office companionship and occasionally felt excluded from culture events, meetings, and general on-site cooperation.
I was on the executive committee at a prior company and had to video-conference in for 8- to 10-hour sessions on occasion but the paystub generator was not showing outstanding salary for my services. That was exhausting labor; I felt like I was giving 110 percent of the conversation and receiving just 30 percent in return. However, I was strong-minded to make the effort. To chase my dreams, I decided to treat remote working as an experiment in which I would test, iterate, test, and test until I found what worked. As just a remote manager, these are my top ten suggestions for staffing efficiently.
Establish a regular communication cadence.
Allow your team to check in with one another by starting each day with a quick stand-up. Allow them to text or Slack updates to the team or yourself if they are unable to attend, and offer to speak in their place. Second, schedule regular team meetings. Depending on the situation, change the frequency. Always prepare a schedule ahead of time and stick to it. Allow time for one-on-one meetings with direct reports, thirdly. Include two-way communication so that you receive the information you require from them and they receive the information they require from you
Make sure you have the proper technology and tools to communicate effectively and often.
Don’t rely exclusively on emailing with all of the applications and smartphone choices available. If you decide to incorporate a new app or communication channel into the mix, make sure your workers are familiar with it. I once overheard a boss saying to one of her employees, “If it’s not urgent, send me an email. If you need me to respond within a couple of hours, text me. If you need me to pick you up straight away, give me a call.” Consider the big picture: What technologies and communication channels can you utilize for general chat, document collaboration, and project management? Having a direct routing implementation system in place can give your team more control and flexibility over their communication needs.
When possible, utilize video calling.
Time used up “face to face” deals a lot more context. Although it isn’t a perfect alternative for face-to-face communication, video conferencing allows you to observe your coworkers’ emotions, facial expressions, and eccentricities. Video conferencing allowed me to forget that I was hundreds of miles away from my coworkers and gave many opportunities for bonding.
Make any rules, expectations, or standards clear.
One of the attractions of working from home is that you can finish up that final load of laundry while busy on the phone. However, be sure to express any regulations or conventions, and set a good example for your staff. Modify your online presence to “out for an appointment or excursion” and give other means for your workers to reach you if you need to leave for an appointment or errand.
Be considerate of other people’s time and circumstances.
There’s nothing like gazing at a computer screen 10 minutes after a meeting was scheduled to begin or getting muted when you wanted to say anything because of an echoing. Consider others’ distant situations and make sure that things like punctuality, a solid Wi-Fi connection, and reliable communication tools are in place.
Be adaptable.
Many remote employees operate in many time zones and have a variety of responsibilities. In certain situations, team meetings must be conducted at night and for all stakeholders to attend. When one group of employees is eating supper at homes with families, rather than scheduling them for 6:30 p.m., offer to cook them earlier or later.
Improve communication about KPIs and objectives tracking.
Send weekly reports to all workers that contributed. Use your instant messaging system to contact your colleagues on a daily basis. Alternatively, when a goal is achieved, send a celebration SMS. Permitting your staff to get off course because you aren’t reminding them of what they and the team are determined for is a recipe for disaster. Allowing your staff to get off course because you aren’t reminding them of what they and the team are striving for is a recipe for disaster.
Be deliberate in establishing a culture.
Share with your team which actions are rewarded and which are penalized, in addition to the obvious. Show them the attitude you would like them to have, and then be consistent with it.
Pay attention to the staff.
On someone’s birthday, send them a humorous gift. If they’re celebrating a special occasion, send an e-card or e-gift card. Inquire about their day or what they did over the weekend. Send soup to their house if they’re unwell. It’s the little things that people remember and speak about the most.
Make genuine eye contact.
If you’re a remote manager with a staff in an office, try to see them as often as possible, maybe once every month, once a quarter, whatever you can. Spend time with them after you’ve arrived. Take them out to lunch, strike up a chat, or set aside time to collaborate.
Make resources available.
Without adequate training and resources, no great military leader would take his soldiers into war. Although this isn’t entirely true, remote teams now require new computers, improved Wi-Fi, and new technologies such as headphones and cameras. A good manager will make every effort to organize these resources to the greatest degree possible.
Look for Collaborative Opportunities
Finding chances for cooperation as a manager is one approach to encourage employees to get to know one another and feel less socially isolated. Determine strategies to have remote employees complete tasks in small groups rather than having one person work on one project alone.
Make activities that will help your team bond.
Virtual team-building activities may be done in the same manner that virtual meetings, virtual trade shows can be held with your distant staff. Include the entire group in the brainstorming process. This will bring creativity in the business.
Working from home may be as pleasurable as you want it to be for you and your coworkers. These factors will offer you an advantage in the game. Above everything, maintain consistency. Humans, especially in the workplace, are creatures of comfort and assurance; they want to know what to anticipate and what is expected of them. Finally, have a good time with it. Your jovial demeanor will shine through, making everyone’s experience more pleasurable.
