Many millions of people are now singing the praises of remote work since the pandemic disrupted our work patterns.
I’ve been working and managing staff remotely for over eight years now, which makes me something of a veteran.
At this point, there aren’t many people criticizing remote work for being unproductive, or difficult to manage like there used to be.
You can see it’s the next wave of workplace evolution, the freedom to work from anywhere there’s a strong internet connection and mobile phone service.
So, you’re familiar with remote work and those of you with a few more years under your belts know how to do it well.
That’s why I want to pass on some tips and tricks of the trade, especially for those of you who are new to managing employees remotely. At the end of the day, like most things in life, it comes down to clear and effective communication.
There are four aspects of communication that will help you connect to and manage your staff remotely.
Be Clear:
- Make sure your staff knows your expectations, your goals, and what you consider quality work. For example, we created a “Guide to Excellence” for all our employees, which removes any ambiguity about our expectations.
Be Curious:
- This is about giving your employees the benefit of the doubt when they don’t meet your expectations. Curiosity is a non-judgmental way to help you understand how to make them successful.
Be Consistent:
- Consistency goes hand in hand with clarity. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. Your team will trust you and perform better when they understand your rules.
Be Transparent:
- You’ll gain respect when you acknowledge a mistake and ask how it can be made right. No one expects you to be perfect.
By the way, communicating like this is helpful with every relationship, not just for managing staff.
Especially with virtual employees, good clear communication skills are vital. That’s why we train our virtual employees for 40 hours, much of that time focused on listening and communication skills – so they can meet you halfway.
Are you looking to build a team of remote employees, or to add in a remote assistant?
Do you want to work with a staffing company with expertise and proven success in managing remote employees?
If so, you are invited to book a free consultation here.