5 Tips for Effective Management of a Remote Workforce
To help curb pandemic spread, many businesses moved to a full or partial remote workforce, but many companies were already following these models and many more are opting to make the changes permanent. This can increase the efficiency of many companies while reducing overhead and maintaining customer relationships if you can effectively manage your workforce.
Harness Technology
One of the biggest reasons why more companies are able to move to a remote workforce is that recent technological innovations have improved the ways that you can securely share files and information as well as communicate with team members all over the world. By harnessing technology such as remote workforce management software, cloud-based information sharing platforms and virtual meeting innovations, you can track the work that your telecommuters are doing, quickly communicate to troubleshoot problems and even solve IT issues over the internet.
Focus on Communication
Like many management challenges, an effective remote workforce relies on consistent and open communication through reliable channels to cut down on missed deadlines, work downtime and misunderstandings. Having a platform for regular video check-ins, weekly meetings and quick questions is the backbone of effective telecommuting and adapting your schedule to take advantage of these tools can make team management easier.
Build Policies and Procedures
Building solid policies and procedures around remote work can save both employees and management from falling behind on projects and shifting workloads. These should include detailing which tasks can be handled remotely and which require an employee to come into the office, how files are delivered to team managers and even which devices can be used for work. If you expect your workforce to keep the same hours as you, build a log-in policy for those hours and include a workaround for different time zones.
Increase Cyber Security
Employees working remotely will sometimes need access to information that you have secured on-site such as physical files, time-clock stations and data on isolated servers. While some of these cannot be solved only with increased cyber security, making sure that the platforms and software you are using can safely transfer data online, that your network and those used by telecommuters are protected, and that unauthorized software is not downloaded on work devices, can help make all your information sharing more safe and effective. It is important to build new policies and procedures around remote workforce cyber security and train your employees on how to use them effectively.
Foster Employee Development
Your remote employees will have some of the same career goals and ambitions that the rest of your workforce does, so it is important to foster their development in the same ways. Not only does this help with talent retention, it can keep remote workers invested in the company and dedicated to its success. When you do your weekly check-ins, make sure to be personal but professional, help each one balance work and life, and understand what kind of career path each employee sees for himself or herself.
Effective management of your remote workforce can look much the same as that of a more traditional team, just with different technology. Adapting your policies, procedures and cyber security to this company model means embracing the right tech for each job, understanding how to foster employee development remotely and remembering the importance of communication.