{"id":4784,"date":"2020-04-06T10:22:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T07:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tmc.ke\/staging\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2020-04-06T10:22:30","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T07:22:30","slug":"managing-remote-employees-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tmc.ke\/staging\/managing-remote-employees-best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"MANAGING REMOTE EMPLOYEES: BEST PRACTICES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In\nlight of the ongoing pandemic, many companies have been forced to adopt remote\nworking. The question then arises; how can you manage remote employees effectively?\nAs a manager, what steps can you take to build productivity, motivation and\ntrust and open lines of communication when not everyone is on site or at the\noffice. And how can you help these remote workers feel like they are part of\nthe team? Here\u2019s a few tips to ensure great engagement and productivity from\nremote employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. KEEP\nIT PERSONAL <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Relationships at work are critical to a high performing team. When team members are comfortable with each other, conversations are automatically easier, direct and more productive. Personal relationships are integral to building trust and reducing unproductive conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To keep remote teams personal and fun begin by taking a few minutes off your meetings to chat about personal interests. The truth is that you would do this in person so why not virtually. Take it a step further by creating dedicated channels to discuss things like sports, movies and activities. This is important because sharing personal stories helps to build empathy which then paves way for trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ensure that you designate specific, appropriate \u2018casual\u2019 time in your meetings and have an agenda to stay on track each meeting.[1]<\/a> Remember to also embrace spontaneous communication. Not only does it foster camaraderie and beat the blues, it\u2019s great for idea generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      During\nthe hiring process or the transition to working remotely, it is important to\ndiscuss exactly what you expect from your employees. Create reasonable and\nrealistic expectations for them. Be sure to cover topics such as hours of\navailability, communication expectations including responsiveness to emails and\nphone calls. Your employees must understand the importance of work productivity\nand how this will be measured.[2]<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ways of communicating are just as important in streamlining remote working. Video conferencing is a popular and convenient choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Consider\ncreating accessible documents outlining all the guidelines and sending links to\nyour employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. BE FLEXIBLE<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        A flexible schedule is one of the best things about working remotely. People working from home will want some flexibility with their work hours, and it is important to allow that. It allows employees to work at their own pace without the rigidity of office requirements. Trying to micromanage them will be a nightmare for everyone involved. Instead keep a record of their work and see what their output is. Are they delivering on time and as expected? Is the quality of their work sufficient and satisfactory? Be forgiving if someone can\u2019t check their email immediately. There\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll be back at it again later at night when the kids are tucked into bed. Remote working is not always 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/a>[3]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. SHOW APPRECIATION<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Working\nremotely can sometimes make employees feel invisible and like their actions and\nefforts are going unnoticed. Ensure that you are generous with public praise\nand acknowledgement of your employees. This will show them that even with the\ndistance, you appreciate the work that they do. Doing this will motivate them\nto work even harder and produce better results. It will also build a better\nrelationship between you and your employees because your recognition of them\nwill show them that you care about them as well.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Being\ntransparent means informing workers about not only the company\u2019s goals, but\nalso the progress the company is making to achieve them and what it means to the\ncompany and its employees to achieve these goals. The best managers use\ntransparency to foster a sense of stability and security among their employees.\nEnsure that there is an open line of communication between both the employer and\nemployees. This will enable employees to be more comfortable with seeking help,\nasking for clarifications and even putting forward new ideas.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1. INVEST IN YOUR REMOTE OFFICES <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              While\nyou may have been thrown into remote working during this pandemic, there\u2019s no\ntelling how long you\u2019ll be expected to operate remotely. If you expect your team\nto work for several months and maintain their normal productivity, then be\nprepared to make an investment in hardware and software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n