Many businesses fear remote working due to the lack of productivity.
They might assume that remote workers don’t work as hard as they do in the
office due to the absence of management and the range of distractions that
homes have. That isn’t necessarily true, though. While it depends on the
particular individual, more often than not, remote teams can actually aid a
business’s success - not just because of the costs saved but also because of
the boost in productivity.
It’s true – remote working can improve productivity levels. That’s
because remote workers can work on their terms. Instead of sitting in an office
chair, they don’t find comfortable or working next to an employee they don’t get
on with, they can focus on their tasks in a space that aligns with their
personality. However, for this to happen seamlessly, you need good management
and the right tools. If you’re interested in boosting the productivity levels
of a remote team, find out how it’s done below.
Provide Easy Access to Documents
First, ensure every person on the remote team has access to the
necessary documents, such as production manuals, audits, and training manuals.
To do this, use a document control system like ETQ. Doing so will allow you to
organize workflows and transfer files without any time-wasting. Even onboarding a new remote employee becomes easy when you can seamlessly provide access to
documents for employees to review, edit, and approve. If you’re interested in a
document control system, find out more at: https://www.etq.com/document-control/.
Hire the Right Remote Team Managers
You need excellent management for remote teams to work. A good
remote team manager ensures everyone
reaches goals, attends meetings, and performs well while working from home. To
hire the right person, choose someone tech-savvy with previous management
experience. That way, they will manage the tech side of things without hassle
while easily leading the team toward success.
Don’t Micromanage
While remote teams need good management, that doesn’t mean micromanaging
is the way forward. Micromanaging will only harm productivity levels. Think about it – if your remote
team is working hard on a project, ticking off their daily task list, and
collaborating when necessary, an interruption will only harm their flow. Don’t
try and see what everyone is doing at every hour of the day. Instead, trust
that the team will reach their goals their own way.
Set Specific Targets
Instead of micromanaging how the remote teams work, set specific targets
for them to hit. That could mean hitting a set number of sales or finishing a
project by a set date. Goals like these give remote employees something
tangible to work towards, which, in turn, means they become more productive.
You don’t have to concern yourself too much with how and when they work –
instead, you set the targets and ensure they reach them on time.
As you can see, hiring remote employees can actually improve
productivity if done right. That’s because remote teams are in the comfort of
their own homes (or cafes), where they can focus solely on their work without
interruption. Just make sure you check in when necessary, avoid micromanaging,
and provide the necessary tools so that you get the most out of the remote
team’s talent.