How to effectively manage a remote workforce

The number of people working remotely has increased a lot over the past few years. According to figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) in May 2022, around 38 per cent of people now work either solely from home (14%) or a hybrid of home and office (24%).

Whilst there are plenty of benefits to home and hybrid working, there can be significant challenges for businesses, not least understanding how to manage a remote workforce.

In this post we’ll discuss three things that managers can do to ensure that their teams remain just as productive regardless of their physical location.

1. Communication

A key component of managing a remote workforce is effective communication.

It’s important to establish regular check-ins that allow for open dialogue between managers and employees, even when they aren’t in the same physical space.

This can be done through video conferencing software or virtual meetings to ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute without feeling left out. Additionally, utilising collaborative tools such as shared documents or project management software can help keep everyone on track while allowing everyone to stay connected.

2. Setting clear goals

Effective remote workforce management also requires good strategic planning from leadership.

Managers should have an overall plan of action laid out in advance that outlines objectives, tasks, deadlines, budgets, communication protocols etc., so there’s no confusion among team members about what needs to be completed.

Additionally, leaders should also set up performance reviews regularly so they can assess how individual team members are doing against their goals and provide feedback accordingly. This will help ensure that everyone is staying productive regardless of where they are working from.

3. Incentives and reward

Rewarding employees is just as important (if not more so) when working remotely. Appreciating that staff are doing a great job is an excellent motivator and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Consider introducing flexible working hours or additional vacation days as recognition for those who deliver exceptional results – or something as simple as a physical trophy award for their desk.

By providing these types of incentives along with ongoing feedback and recognition for hard work done remotely, businesses can create an atmosphere of appreciation which helps motivate employees while allowing them the freedom they need to perform at peak levels no matter where they are located geographically.

Conclusion

Remote working is here to stay, so it’s important that businesses adapt to the changing world of work. Above are three examples of how you can help communicate, engage and reward your staff to ensure maximum morale, productivity and retention.

Join our webinar on Tuesday 28 March where we’ll be discussing this in more detail: How technology can help manage remote teams