Ever wanted to work wherever you wanted? Although working remotely does have its benefits, such as not having to commute when working from home, there are many drawbacks to this approach. When staff work in a different time zone, it does take a while for communications i.e. emails, faxes, to be acknowledged.
Staff can also feel isolated when their supervisor or manager don’t congratulate them for completing a project to a strict deadline. When staff don’t feel appreciated, they aren’t as motivated as they should be. So, what management tips are there to handling staff that are working remotely?
Embrace a Different Policy to Work Management
Work order management has a positive impact not just on remote staff but also those that work at central premises, such as a head office. This software enables all members of staff to know what tasks have to be completed and should be in their schedule. Easy to operate, several systems don’t have to be accessed because staff can log onto one in order to know what their schedule is.
This system is also convenient for companies that have remote workers who are in a different time zone than they are. This is because messages can be left at the end of the working day and picked up when staff start their shift.
Regularly Keep in Contact
Remote workers can feel as though that their manager has forgotten about them when they aren’t emailed in a while. By sending an email to a supervisor or a line manager that oversees a remote team and asking how they are coping, this can help to motivate staff. A message of thanks can also be sent to a remote team when a heavy workload is completed on time.
Look Out for Negativity
When it takes several days for remote workers to reply to emails, this can suggest that they aren’t motivated. If staff continually feel neglected, the quality of their work can be affected. By addressing these problems head on, staff productivity in remote areas can increase.
Set Realistic Goals
Many managers make the mistake of placing a lot of pressure on remote workers. If staff start their shifts when managers aren’t in the office, any questions that they have about their workload cannot be answered. Not only can they be confused but staff can feel very dissatisfied. When staff are assigned work, ask them if a deadline can be met.
When they are happy with the work which they’ve been instructed to do, it will be produced to a high standard. It also shows that a manager cares about their staff and that a remote team is a valued part of a company. There can also be a lot of enthusiasm about the tasks they have been assigned because everyone is satisfied with their workload.
Managing remote staff needn’t be difficult when this advice is taken into consideration and embraced by a company of any size.