We’re entering a new era where norms are now rapidly changing. A combination of the circumstances brought on by the Pandemic, along with the amazing advances in technology have created the need and possibilities to function remotely, especially when it comes to business. If you’re running a business and have had to adapt by dealing with your team working exclusively online, then you relate to the issues that come along with it. You have to be innovative and come up with new and different ways to keep a close eye on them to ensure that they’re getting the job done. If you find that you’re struggling with this, look no further because we’re going to provide you with 6 practical solutions to help you keep track of your remote team.
1. Create a Detailed Schedule
It was a lot easier to constantly check-in or change things around when you’re working in an office, but now things have changed. This is why it is all the more important to create a detailed schedule. This means having separate daily, weekly and monthly schedules, each stating their specific goals. You’ll find that even though this process might take a bit of time, it’s certainly going to be worth your while in the grand scheme of things. This is because your employees need to have goals and deadlines to be able to stay on track, especially if they are working remotely.
2. Ensure that Your Onboarding Process is Thorough
Onboarding has always been an important part of the process- possibly the most important, as it sets the foundation for all new employees. In the office, new employees were able to learn on the job. However, this is not something that is practical at all, especially when it comes to online work. The solution is, just like the schedule, the job description needs to be extremely detailed so that any new staff is able to navigate their way through their tasks with ease. They also need to be able to have a mentor to check in on them regularly and have as many video calls as needed to ensure that everything is on track.
3. Use Employee Monitoring Software
You cannot have a successful remote workplace without investing in decent employee monitoring software. Many companies already use Workpuls, and with the onset of the pandemic, more people are realizing the value of this kind of software. It allows you to keep track of when staff is online, what platforms they are on, and how much work they got done within their clocked hours.
4. Have Weekly Meetings for Updates and Feedback
Just because you no longer meet at the office, doesn’t mean that you should stop having meetings on a regular basis. Make sure that these meetings are informative and not too long so that you don’t lose people’s attention and interest. Keep track of the points mentioned so that you’re able to follow up later on. Give everyone a chance to speak so that they know that you value their opinion and that you are aware of the work they’re doing and how far along they are.
5. Use Checklists and Incentives
Along with the schedule, it’s important that each department and employee has a daily checklist that they need to get through. This allows people to have a structure in their day and keeps the work from piling up. It also allows you to keep a close eye on everything that’s being done without too much hassle. You should also have incentives like rewards or bonuses to motivate your employees. Sitting at home all day requires even more motivation to work than working in an office does, so always keep them on their toes and motivated to be productive.
6. Utilize the Value of Lower Management
Yes, many companies have had to cut off many employees to save on expenses, but never underestimate the value of lower management. You’ll find that you need them even more when it comes to remote work. You’re going to have a lot more detail to keep track of and it’s going to be harder to do if it is not thorough and organized. The best way to do this is to have lower management take care of these details for you and report back to you when need be, on a regular basis.
The 6 points mentioned here give you the perfect and solid foundation for running a successful business as you work remotely and online. It’s important to bring in new practices and morph old ones to fit the mold of the digital platforms that we now rely on.
