[su_dropcap style=”flat”]T[/su_dropcap]ECHNOLOGY HAS reached a point where people can work from remote locations with ease. That means those with flexible working needs can work from home and not need to be in a physical office. Remote working is also useful if you wish to hire overseas staff.
Perhaps your business may have field agents that seldom spend time at your premises. Or you have staff that live in other countries but don’t need to be in yours. There are plenty of benefits to having remote workers. But, how can you manage them if they are not at your office?
Things are different when you need to manage staff that work in remote locations. The good news is you can accomplish such a mission like a pro. Here’s how to be a good boss to your remote workers:
Make your conversations by video instead of email
We all know that email is a convenient way of talking to people wherever they are in the world. But, it’s also an impersonal method of communication. It’s easier to get one’s feelings or points across in person.
Of course, that isn’t always possible with remote workers. The next best thing is to have video conference calls with them.
There are many ways you can achieve that goal. Perhaps the simplest option is by using a program like Skype on your computer. What if you’d rather not use a laptop or PC with a Webcam?
Another option is to go for a commercial AV system installation. As you can see from the photo above, it makes it easy to have video calls with your staff. Plus, it’s useful if there is more than one person in your office taking part in the call.
Have regular one-on-one meetings
Video calls make it easy to personalize and converse with your remote team members. What you should always do is dedicate an hour each week for “catch-up” sessions. This is where you discuss any issues or developments without interruptions.
Some people claim that meetings are a waste of time. But, when you’ve got remote staff, they are a necessity. They help to build a rapport between both parties. Plus, they are easy methods of ironing out any growing problems.
Make them feel like they are part of the team
Many bosses often “forget” about their remote staff. Those people are still employees of your company. You should make sure they feel included in your team.
Simple gestures like sending them freebies or corporate goodies are a brilliant idea. As are invitations to annual get-togethers.
Identify any training requirements
There will be times where your team has to adopt a new way of doing something. Perhaps that might even include using different technology to achieve a specific goal.
During your weekly meetings, you must identify if your remote staff need any training. If so, you can arrange for that to happen. The last thing you want is for their productivity to go down. That will affect the efficiency of your business, and your bottom line.
Good luck!
