9 Tips for Managing Remote Workers

Most companies are now realizing the benefits of hiring deskless workers, whether they be freelancers, part-time employees, or even full-time remote workers. However, it can be tricky to manage these employees effectively when you’re not in the same office with them every day. Here are nine useful tips that will help you manage deskless workers and build an effective work relationship with them without a lot of effort on your part.

1. Evaluate their technical needs

It’s important to provide them with HR automation tools that allow them to properly manage their time and stay on task. Good, effective leadership requires a good team, so make sure you work with your IT staff early in your planning stages to evaluate each remote worker’s technical needs and determine which HR automation tools will be best suited for your workflow. The right tools are crucial to maintaining strong relationships between remote workers and their supervisors and peers.

2. Bring them together in person at least once per month

If you’re a manager of a remote team, you might be thinking that face-to-face meetings are just not an option. However, even if your remote workers can’t come into your office or attend virtual meetings with you regularly, that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on in-person interaction. Consider setting up small group meetups or scheduling one-on-one chats once per month, even if it means traveling to visit them.

3. Encourage a culture of collaboration

Part of what makes collaboration so challenging is that teams must encourage a culture of openness and inclusivity when working together, even if their offices are miles apart. As your company grows and more people work remotely, you may want to implement new tools (like Slack) or methods (like video conferencing) to facilitate communication and improve teamwork. And in order to make your team members feel part of something bigger, consider involving them in decision-making processes regarding company goals.

4. Manage expectations realistically

One of your jobs as a manager is to make sure remote workers understand what’s expected of them and how they’ll be measured. If a worker isn’t in your office or on video calls, you have no real way to supervise them. Make sure to use any HR automation tools you have at your disposal—like performance review software or project management apps to keep tabs on remote workers’ accomplishments.

5. Find out what matters most to your team members

One of your primary tasks as a manager is to boost productivity. That starts with knowing what matters most to your team members. A great way to get started? Set up an anonymous survey, and ask your employees what they think could be improved in terms of workflow, company culture, etc. You can run these surveys periodically at least once a year and even use them to pinpoint areas where you’re excelling and opportunities for improvement.

6. Stay available

Given that you’re now working with a larger, more global team, it’s not always easy to keep track of what everyone is up to. Communicating is key. Communication means being proactive about getting in touch with your remote workers and finding out how things are going on their end; it also means making yourself available to answer questions and provide resources as needed. Don’t be afraid to let employees know that they can reach out if they need help or advice.

7. Show appreciation and respect

Your deskless team members are part of your organization. Every person on your team—regardless of location is an important part of your organization, and should be treated with professionalism and respect. Keeping that in mind as you manage these workers will help boost productivity and improve teamwork.

8. Don’t be afraid to get up from your desk too!

When employees are at home or out of your sight, it’s sometimes hard to keep a close eye on them. Before you know it, they may be working from bed (or even in a bar). While you can’t control where your remote workers work from, there are things you can do to improve teamwork and communication in order to make sure everyone is getting their job done. We’ve compiled a list of 9 tips that will help your business stay on track.

9. Check in regularly via video chat

As a manager, it’s your job to oversee work and productivity. Teamwork makes the dream work, and regularly checking in via video chat can help you build that camaraderie even when your team members are at home or across town. Just be sure to schedule check-ins so everyone knows when to expect them.

Conclusion

When managed correctly, remote workers can be a great addition to your workforce. By maintaining regular communication and providing specific instructions, you can ensure that everyone is on board with your vision and expectations. It’s easy to take remote workers for granted because they aren’t in front of you every day. However, by staying involved with each member of your team and offering clear direction, you will foster productive relationships with them and create an environment where they want to excel.

Asloob Alam is a B2B Sales & Digital Marketing Specialist at Uprytr, establishing, developing, and maintaining relationships with prospective clients. He also enjoys researching and writing about how a company can optimize its work process.