It doesn’t matter whether you’re an in-house or virtual employee, you want to feel appreciated, you want to feel necessary.  

It’s a bit easier to accomplish with an in-house employee. 

 Casual comments like “You know I really appreciate the effort you put into that report,” or “I couldn’t have closed that deal without your help,” will pretty much get the job done. 

 It’s a little tougher with remote employees, but don’t worry – HireSmart is here with some excellent advice you can use for your business.  

 If your virtual employees don’t feel necessary or valued, they’re probably feeling isolated and disconnected. 

 That eventually leads to decreased productivity and job satisfaction. 

 So, as a manager or team leader, it’s important to make your virtual employees feel necessary and valued. Here are some tips from HireSmart to help you achieve that. 

 Connect your virtual employees to your mission, vision, and values 

 One of the most important things is clearly communicating why your virtual employees are important to your business.  

 They need to know that without them involved and playing their part, the team will struggle.  

 As business expert and author Simon Sinek puts it, “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” 

 Part of this is to make sure your virtual employees understand how their work fits into the bigger picture. 

Regular check-ins and feedback sessions are tools you can use to help virtual staff stay on track and feel more connected to the team. 

 

Recognize their contributions 

 This can be as simple as sending a quick email or message thanking them for their work, or highlighting their achievements during team meetings.  

 

Acknowledging your virtual employees’ efforts and accomplishments helps them create a positive connection to their individual work and also to the business in general.  

While an email’s a little more formal than stopping by an employee’s desk for a quick chat, or while grabbing a cup of coffee, it can still be casual and somewhat frequent. 

This is such a fundamental and powerful management tool – you’d be surprised how many managers and owners fail to take advantage of it. 

 

Encourage cross-pollination through collaboration 

 Collaboration is essential for any team and it’s particularly important for virtual employees who may feel disconnected from the rest of the team at times.  

 Encouraging collaboration and teamwork makes your virtual employees feel like they are part of something bigger. 

 Regular team calls or brainstorming sessions are good opportunities for this, or using communication tools like Trello or Slack to keep everyone in the loop.  

 Let your employees learn from each other and develop authentic working relationships.  

 

“Remote workers often feel disconnected from the team and struggle to build relationships. It’s important to create opportunities for social interaction and team building.” – John Rampton, “How to Keep Remote Employees Engaged and Productive” 

 

Provide opportunities for growth 

 Make your virtual employees feel like they’re advancing in their careers and contributing in meaningful ways. 

 You can offer training sessions, mentorship programs, and anything that creates new challenges and responsibilities.  

 This shows your virtual staff that you’re investing in them and in their future.  

 Occasionally a HireSmart client will ask “Do I really need to put in this extra effort?” 

 

And our answer is always a resounding “Yes!” 

We don’t consider it extra effort – it’s just good management. 

 When it comes to hiring excellent virtual employees who will stick around long-term, we’ve got you covered.  

Let us help your business succeed with our valuable tried and true management strategies. 

 

Click here for a free consultation.