With more employees at all types of businesses working remotely more often, it's a good time to consider how to keep your remote team productive. Here are ten tips that should help.
1. Make Sure Employees Know What Is Expected of Them
To be productive, employees must know what is expected of them, so be clear in letting them know. Make sure they understand their roles and responsibilities. Outline their tasks and deadlines and provide detailed guidance to avoid confusion and reduce errors.
2. Use Micro Goals
In addition to setting larger goals, try setting micro goals for your remote employees. Breaking projects down into smaller tasks may help them stay motivated as they can make complex projects feel easier to manage. With micro goals, employees may be able to stay better engaged and find it easier to meet deadlines without feeling overwhelmed.
3. Measure Performance Rather Than Time Spent Working
Consider emphasizing the performance of your remote employees as opposed to simply tracking the time they've spent working. While there are ways to track time, employees will unquestionably encounter distractions at home they wouldn't at the office. It's just a fact of remote work. This doesn't have to be a problem if you hold them accountable for their work in terms of performance.
4. Be Sure to Provide the Right Technology
To be productive, remote employees must have access to the tools they need to do their job as efficiently as possible, so be sure you provide them with the right technology.
"Equipping employees with the right communication and project management tools is critical for a remote working environment," says Amanda Day at Remote.com.* "With the right technology, your remote team can operate smoothly, leading to a strong and productive remote culture. For example, remote employees can collaborate through project management tools like Asana, Basecamp, or Jira. Project management tools can help remote employees better organize and prioritize their tasks."
5. Check In Regularly
Be sure to check in with your employees on a regular basis. Help them address
challenges they're facing, and provide guidance, but also provide words of encouragement and celebrating achievements. Ask them for feedback and answer any questions they might have. Regular communication can help with productivity while making sure they feel seen and heard, and therefore valued.
6. Use Collaboration Software
Use collaboration tools, such as Slack and Zoom to keep your remote team connected with one another (and with you). Such tools can help streamline communication and facilitate real-time collaboration. Team members can use such tools to work on projects, but also to foster relationships with each other, which can help build a stronger remote team overall. When your team is well-connected, they can stay engaged and productive.
7. Provide Flexibility in Hours
Allow employees to adjust their schedules to work around their lives as much as possible. Doing so can help them work when they're feeling most productive and when they are at their ideal energy levels. It can also eliminate distractions that can be attended to during off hours. Employees value this type of flexibility and are more likely to have higher morale and less stress. As long as deadlines are met and performance is satisfactory, flexible hours can be great for productivity.
8. Encourage Breaks
Encourage remote employees to take breaks. Working from home, they may feel compelled to work their hours straight through, but this is likely to take a toll on productivity. Let them know you expect them to take breaks and that you are fine with them doing so.
9. Help Employees Figure Out Their Workspace
Those new to remote work may struggle to create an ideal workspace in their home. This can mean distractions and an uncomfortable and unproductive working environment. Provide them with resources and tips on lighting, desk setups, noise reduction, etc. Consider providing stipends for office furniture and equipment.
10. Stress the Importance of Mental Health
While there are many benefits of working from home, a remote environment can also lead to stress as the lines between personal and professional life are blurred. Prioritize the mental health of employees by promoting wellness programs, offering access to counseling, and/or encouraging employees to set boundaries. You can also provide them with mental health resources, such as mindfulness and stress management tips.
A productive remote team requires leadership that sets clear expectations and is supportive to employees. Ensure your team maintains a healthy work-life balance and knows what is expected of them.
