Today more than ever, people are choosing to work remotely. Having a remote workforce is a positive thing because it allows for flexibility, both in working hours and lifestyle. But sometimes, remote employees can be difficult to engage and manage because you’re not in contact with them as frequently as in-office employees. Thankfully there are many technological tools available these days that can help. Here are a few ways you can use technology to make the process a little bit easier.
Take Advantage of Online Communication Platforms
There are countless platforms available for different sorts of digital and online communication. Video chats, instant messaging, project management tools and much more are abundant. Using online messaging platforms enables remote employees to stay connected with you and each other easily. The benefit of this modern technological age is that you can connect with remote employees all the time, regardless of anyone’s physical location. Take advantage of the ability to chat with other coworkers even if they’re halfway across the world, and you can shrink the bubble of your company even though you are physically separated.
Schedule Video Meetings
A great way to get consistent feedback and check in with your employees is to schedule occasional video meetings. This is something you don’t want to overuse because the benefit of being a remote worker is that you can work at any time, regardless of the time zone. So, offer your workers flexibility while maintaining the freedom to work how and when they want. Once again, communication tools like Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams allow you to do this instantly, as well as sharing your screen and any important information.
Maintain Shared Work Logs
Another way to ensure consistent progress is to share work logs between the team. While you don’t want to constantly get on someone’s case about a deadline, having a written record of where they’re at and what they’re working on is an important accountability measure and ensures that they are on task and proceeding in the right direction. With a shared work log, you can get feedback without having to pester your employees, and you can still direct them appropriately. If they are lagging in a certain area, these logs let you know how to direct them and what help they may need.
If you manage a remote workforce, consider finding a project management platform to strike up chats and keep up to date on the projects your employees are handling. Necessary digital technology will keep you in better contact and help direct and guide your remote staff whenever necessary.
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