Rather than establishing a central physical location, you may feel it makes more sense for your business to have a team of workers scattered across the country or even the globe. To make the most of varied talent in various locations, you must understand how to assemble and manage or hire remote workers. Here are some ideas from ANEWSWIRE to bear in mind in your attempts to take your business to the next level.
1. Utilize Remote Work Tools
With both recruiting and managing a remote team, 10to8.com suggests using reliable remote work tools. Technology has come a long way, making it easier and more efficient for your team to manage tasks, chats and proofreading while away from a traditional work environment. Video conferencing tools like Zoom and Skype, for example, make collaboration a snap. Explore your options until you find a program and tools that suit your and your team’s needs.
As a business leader charged with making sure employees are paid accurately and on time, an indispensable tool is automated payroll software like QuickBooks Time that not only keeps track of billable hours but automates the process from your desktop, laptop or smartphone. You and your employees can use this app to retrieve, send and approve time remotely, with push notifications that prompt employees to clock in and out. This automation can save an average three hours a week on scheduling and payroll tasks.
2. Schedule a Daily Check-In
Have your team check in every day via video chat to “check the pulse” of your current project. Sure, you may use text-based chat, but Star OUTiCO warns that relying only on text strips away some nuances of face-to-face interactions. Even if your team does not actually meet face-to-face, video check-ins let you see everyone, and everyone can see you, too. Ask your team members how comfortable they feel using video chat, as some may prefer to leave their camera off during check-ins. Give them ample notice how meetings will be structured so they can plan accordingly.
3. Set Your Expectations and Keep Them in Check
From day one, clarify the quality of work you expect your team to deliver. That means breaking down your desires regarding availability, work hours, deadlines, communication systems, email response times and meetings.
Once you break down your expectations to your team, take action to manage those expectations on your end. Diving into details regarding tasks and why you have specific expectations helps to put everyone on the same page. Let your team know the metrics you use to measure success and what you consider a setback or failure.
4. Help Your Team Bond
Bit.AI notes that social isolation is a common hurdle for remote work, so make it easy for your remote team to feel like a genuine team, rather than several people working separately on the same project. For instance, during your daily check-in, ask everyone how they’re doing in their personal lives. They don’t have to give too many personal details if they don’t want to, but asking if anyone watched a good movie or TV show, listened to an interesting podcast or good music helps you and your team to get to know each other.
5. Ask About Boundaries
Remote teams work within unique parameters; you need to communicate with your team to understand their needs. For instance, ask when team members usually work, their time zone and when they prefer to receive emails and chat messages. If your workers feel comfortable, ask them about personal details such as whether they have disabilities or mental health conditions that may necessitate special accommodations to help them perform their jobs.
6. Budgeting Basics
Taking on a remote crew is generally less costly than hiring in-house, but it’s not without expense. Keep in mind that software, hardware and security to support your functionality will be top priority. Being able to communicate from various locations, across time zones and even across continents can be important factors. Staff will need to safely and efficiently perform all functions from wherever they are, from invoicing to timekeeping.
Shifting times require shifting work environments, but change is also laden with opportunity. Make the most of this transition, and use these tips to maximize your remote teams’ potential and satisfaction.
