Remote work is becoming more and more popular in many industries like funny self pity quotes, not just IT. It can be done from home, or from coffee shops or coworking spaces. The big advantage for remote workers is the ability to stay connected with colleagues and clients without the need for expensive commutes or office space.
In celebration of these benefits, we’d like to share 10 best practices that have helped our employees at Remote Stands work in a remote environment.
1. Schedule regular check-in calls.
It’s important to attend to your remote employees regularly. This will ensure you stay connected and can share ideas and solutions with each other. It also gives your employees motivation to work hard and be productive because they know that you are checking in on them frequently.
2. Set up a system for following up with your remote staff.
When you are collaborating with remote workers, it’s important that you have a system for staying in touch and consistently following up on projects and deadlines. A good system will give your remote workers a sense of security and make you more effective in tracking progress and giving feedback. You might also find that it makes your job easier, too.
3. Create a “remote first” mentality when hiring employees.
When you’re hiring employees, it’s important to choose candidates who will be a good fit with your remote work environment. This means that they should be self-starters and have the ability to work independently, as well as pay attention to the details of their projects and hold themselves accountable for their outcomes.
4. Schedule meetings on Mondays or Wednesdays.
When you are teaming with a remote worker, it’s important that you set up a regular meeting at the beginning of each week. This will allow you to check in with each other and make sure nothing is forgotten. Meeting with your employees on Mondays or Wednesdays is a great way to stay in touch and be productive while everyone is working remotely. It’s also an excellent time to share ideas and connect with peers.
5. Create a monthly “hard” meeting.
You don’t want to use a meeting as a way to motivate your remote employees and hold them accountable for the work they produce. Instead, consider using the meeting to identify the “hot-buttons” for each of your teams. A meeting once a month is great for keeping everyone in the loop and sharing ideas with each other. The hard meeting should be just that – hard, not easy, you have no room for errors and you need to ensure that each person has participated fully.
6. Don’t micromanage employees via Slack or email.
In-person meetings are the best time to mentor and supervise your employees. Many managers believe that you need to micromanage employees on email and Slack, but this is not true. If employees have questions, they can ask during check-in calls or at meetings.
7. Encourage employees to participate in physical activity.
Remote workers should get up and move every hour or so if possible, even if it’s just to walk around the room a few times. A sedentary lifestyle can cause those who work at home to feel depressed and tired. Keeping up with a career while working in a sedentary situation can also be difficult on family members.
8. Lead by example.
You might think that your remote employees need to be “in the office,” but the reality is that they can’t be doing everything from their desktop. You can help them stay productive by being an active participant in their day-to-day work, setting the example for what you want for yourself and providing the best environment possible for them to work in.
9. Make meetings more casual.
Meeting with employees at a conference table is not the best way to collaborate with them. In our office, we have all of our employees sit on the floor in a big circle and work together as a team. It’s informal, but efficient and fun! Remote meetings should be more casual than face-to-face meetings, and make it clear that you’re not looking at a clock and each employee needs to know that when they’re checking in.
10. Maintain an open work environment.
A remote work environment is great for allowing employees to be more productive and flexible with their time and schedules, but it can make it difficult to maintain an open office culture. Encourage your employees to collaborate with each other, invite them to stop by your office if they’re in the area or schedule regular meetings with the entire team.
Summary:
By setting clear goals, making meetings easy and casual, and encouraging self-motivation while at work, remote work can be a rewarding career choice that helps increase productivity and collaboration between team members. And it is not only creative and IT sectors who enjoy remote work, administrative or business staff can also benefit from it.
Some companies are looking for a way to improve the communication with their employees, who work in different locations.
