Top 5 Strategies For Managing Remote Employees

Remote teams face unique challenges due to the absence of natural interactions and physical proximity. Without the opportunity for casual conversations and shared experiences in a traditional office setting, remote teams can struggle to build strong relationships and maintain a sense of cohesion. 

However, by implementing effective strategies for managing remote employees, it is possible to compensate for these challenges and foster a strong and connected remote team. In this blog post, we will explore key strategies that can help maximize the success of managing remote employees. Read on!

1. Foster Engagement and Connection 

Fostering engagement and connection is crucial for remote teams to overcome the lack of natural interactions. One effective strategy is to create dedicated chat rooms where team members can engage in casual conversations and discuss personal interests, simulating the spontaneous interactions that often occur around the office “water cooler.” 

These chat rooms provide an opportunity for team members to share their lives, hobbies, and interests, allowing them to connect on a personal level and build stronger relationships. This method of managing remote employees not only enhances collaboration and teamwork but also promotes employee satisfaction and overall team cohesion. 

2. Establish Healthy Communication Practices

Establishing healthy communication practices is essential for remote teams to maintain employee well-being and productivity. One common challenge faced by remote teams is the overwhelming influx of emails and chat messages, which can lead to information overload and burnout. 

It is crucial to address this issue by encouraging team members to set boundaries and disconnect from work-related communication outside of working hours. This method of managing remote employees ensures that employees have time for rest and rejuvenation, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Additionally, prioritizing communication methods based on their effectiveness can significantly enhance remote team collaboration. Video communication is the most impactful, as it allows for non-verbal cues and fosters a more personal connection. Audio calls come next, followed by chat messages and emails. 

3. Enhance Clarity through Visual Communication

In the realm of remote team collaboration, the importance of visual communication cannot be overstated. Utilizing video or visualization communication tools can significantly enhance clarity and understanding among team members. One highly recommended tool for this purpose is Jing, which allows users to effortlessly record screen captures and share them with others.

Advantages of Visual Communication:

Convey Instructions

By incorporating visual elements into communication, remote teams can more effectively convey instructions and expectations. Visual aids such as screen recordings or annotated images can provide clear step-by-step guidance, making complex tasks more manageable. This not only reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings but also streamlines workflow and enhances productivity. 

Bridging Gaps

Visual communication as a method of managing remote employees has the advantage of bridging the gap left by the absence of face-to-face interactions in remote teams. It allows team members to see facial expressions, gestures, and visual cues, thereby adding depth and context to conversations. This visual richness enables better understanding and facilitates smoother collaboration, even across different time zones or language barriers.

Overcome Language or Cultural Barriers

Furthermore, visual communication can help overcome potential language or cultural barriers that may exist within a diverse remote team. Visual aids have the power to transcend language barriers and ensure that information is communicated accurately and comprehensively.

4. Leverage Video Conferencing Technology

Video conferencing technology has become a crucial tool for managing remote employees, offering a plethora of advantages that help bridge the gap created by physical distance. Platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts have emerged as cost-effective solutions that enable teams to connect and collaborate effectively.

Advantages of Video Conferencing:

Enhance Information

One of the primary advantages of video conferencing is the ability to enhance information richness. Unlike audio or text-based communication, video allows team members to see each other’s facial expressions, body language, and visual cues, enabling a deeper level of understanding and connection. This visual dimension adds context and nuance to conversations, helping to avoid misunderstandings and foster more meaningful interactions.

Real-time Collaboration

Video conferencing as a method for managing remote employees facilitates real-time collaboration, making it easier for remote teams to work together on projects, brainstorm ideas, and exchange feedback. 

It enables instant communication and reduces delays, ensuring that team members can engage in dynamic discussions and address issues promptly. This real-time collaboration not only boosts productivity but also strengthens team cohesion and fosters a sense of unity despite physical separation.

Maintain Relationships

Video conferencing technology also plays a crucial role in building and maintaining personal relationships within remote teams. Seeing and hearing colleagues on screen humanizes the interaction, making team members feel more connected and engaged. 

It allows for informal conversations, small talk, and casual interactions, simulating the spontaneous exchanges that occur in traditional office environments. This sense of connection and camaraderie contributes to a positive team culture and promotes a supportive work environment.

Transcends Geographical Boundaries

Furthermore, video conferencing transcends geographical boundaries, enabling remote teams to collaborate seamlessly across different time zones and locations. This global accessibility promotes diversity and inclusivity within teams, as individuals from various backgrounds and locations can contribute their unique perspectives and expertise.

5. Promote Regular In-Person Meetings

While remote work has its benefits, it’s important not to overlook the significance of face-to-face interactions in building strong and cohesive teams. Despite the convenience and efficiency of virtual communication, there are aspects of human connection that can only be fully experienced in person. Therefore, it is highly recommended to promote annual or regular in-person team meetings.

Advantages of In-Person Meetings:

Build Deeper Connections

These in-person meetings as a method for managing remote employees provide valuable opportunities for team members to build deeper connections with one another. 

Meeting face-to-face allows for a deeper understanding of nonverbal cues, body language, and facial expressions, which can greatly enhance communication and foster trust within the team. 

It enables team members to establish a stronger rapport and develop a deeper sense of empathy towards one another, leading to better collaboration and long-term success.

Share Personal Experiences

In-person meetings offer the chance to share personal details and experiences that may not come up in day-to-day remote interactions. Casual conversations during breaks or social activities provide insights into team members’ lives, hobbies, and interests, allowing for a more holistic understanding of each other. 

This sharing of personal details helps to create a supportive and inclusive environment, where individuals feel valued not just for their professional contributions but also as unique individuals with diverse experiences.

Conclusion

Managing remote teams effectively requires implementing a set of essential strategies to overcome challenges and maximize team productivity. Implementing these strategies is vital for managing remote employees effectively. It is also essential to continuously adapt and improve these strategies for managing remote employees to meet the evolving needs of remote teams, ensuring their success in a dynamic and ever-changing work environment.

At RecruitNinjas, we help you bypass remote hiring challenges by providing end-to-end remote employee management. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality services.

This blog is inspired by the video: “The 21 Rules for Managing Remote Teams” by “Running Remote.”