Did you know that nearly three-quarters of managers in the U.S. would prefer for their employees to be in the office full time?
If you love being in person with your team, having to invest in managing remote teams can feel like a struggle. How do you know whether your employees have what they need to make progress on their work? Can you build a tight-knit work community if no one works in the same place?
With a few adjustments to your approach to management, working remotely can feel as cohesive as working in the same office together. Keep reading for three tips on how to build this culture in your workplace.
1. Proactive Communication
In an in-person office environment, incidental communication occurs throughout the day.
You stop by a teammate’s office or cubicle to ask a question. Notices get posted on the employee bulletin board. Impromptu meetings can be scheduled by gathering everyone in the conference room.
When managing remote employees, you have to be more intentional with your communication. “Stopping by someone’s office” might mean that you have to travel several blocks to see your colleague, or even to another city! You need to find a way to replace these communications even when you’re not working in the same building.
Some teams thrive on short, daily check-ins to say hello and catch up on everyone’s tasks for the day. Other teams prefer a longer, weekly meeting to have an in-depth conversation about the team’s progress. Still others communicate throughout the day via Slack or other messaging apps.
2. Provide Necessary Tools and Resources
One of the most dominant new trends in project management is working with completely remote teams, which means you’ll need to find a way for your employees to get access to the tools they need in their remote offices.
Things like a second monitor, ergonomic mouse and keyboard, and a supportive office chair go a long way toward making a remote employee’s home workspace more comfortable, boosting their productivity and work performance. Make sure everyone has access to high-speed internet, phone lines, and printing, as necessary.
3. Mindset Shift
One of the biggest adjustments that project managers and other kinds of office managers need to make is in their approach to management as a whole. When you can’t see your workers at every moment of the day, you can’t rely on visual cues to know whether someone has the resources they need to complete their work.
Instead, focus on their end results. Do they turn in the work on time, or communicate promptly if they’re unable to meet a deadline? Is their work quality up to standard?
Start Managing Remote Teams Effectively Today
Now you know three tips for managing remote teams. From proactive, intentional communication to managing with end results in mind, a few simple changes can make your remote work culture work for you and your employees.
Looking for more advice on managing remote workers? Take a look at the other business articles on our site for more!