It’s no secret that remote working has been on the rise over the past decade. Digital technology has paved the way for a more flexible and streamlined work style, where people can work from anywhere. In fact, according to an OWL Labs report, 62% of the people surveyed reported working remotely at any frequency, including full-time and part-time. With remote working now becoming normalised, it’s all the more important for managers to keep their teams empowered. When there’s little face-to-face interaction, traditional management can be a challenge. However, there are several ways that leaders can effectively manage their remote team and continue to hone the skills of each employee.

PROVIDE MENTORSHIP

When it comes to managing employees whether in-house or remote, communication plays an essential role – and mentorship is a key part of this process. Mentoring isn’t just about offering advice; it’s about tailoring your communication style to each employee and building an impactful relationship. Since managers have targets and associated KPIs to hit, those in leadership positions need to provide mentorship that improves the team culture. It’s easy for remote teams to start feeling isolated, so leaders need to make sure they provide consistent mentorship that helps people feel aligned with the company. While working remote, it’s important everyone is on the same page. Mentorship is one of the best ways to keep your team motivated, and as a result, empowered.

DEFINE CLEAR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS

Setting clear goals and expectations is key to the success of your remote team. While remote working gives employees more autonomy, you still need to enforce the expectations and encourage your team to always remain responsive and engaged throughout the day. For example, let them know how often you’d like them to touch base and always justify the work to increase accountability. It’s easy for communication at all levels to slip through the cracks in a remote team, which in turn, can cause confusion and stress. When people know what’s expected of them, they will naturally be more focused and ready for any challenge.

SHARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Sharing the accomplishments of your team and the company itself can make the remote working experience much more interesting. When your team isn’t in the office, it can be harder to recognise your company’s success. Celebrating victories, however big or small, is a great morale booster. In this way, sharing achievements can help team members understand how their efforts contribute to wider company goals. As a manager, you need to create a system for notifying your team about the victories.

For example, during your daily conference calls, you could recognise and discuss the achievements. This could include presentations that show some of the key outcomes. Alternatively, if you have a company newsletter, create a section that recognises the accomplishments of your remote team. Given today’s challenges with the pandemic, it’s important those who work remotely have a sense of accomplishment and purpose. By sharing the results, you can show that you care about your team’s efforts, driving even more motivation.

CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

According to statistics reported by Gusto, over half of employees said they stayed in their jobs for longer due to a strong sense of community. Clearly, team members show more loyalty and engagement when they feel like they belong to the company. However, remote working creates its own set of challenges when it comes to building a community. How do you create a sense of atmosphere and belonging with no in-person interaction?

As a leader, one of the best things you can do is to encourage constant networking across the company through team chats and channels. Provide your team with the right tools so they feel in sync with their co-workers. There are various apps that multiple teams can use to keep each other motivated, such as MS Teams, Slack, and Zoom. Since working remotely removes the physical presence of our co-workers, leaders should continually encourage everyone to share ideas and ask questions to foster a community.

LET BMS HELP YOU LEAD YOUR REMOTE TEAM TO SUCCESS

Now you know what it takes to empower your remote team. But what’s the next step? If you want more information on recruiting and managing a remote team, check out our blog page for more information. Alternatively, feel free to get in touch with the team here at BMS. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.