Managing a Remote Workforce

Managing a remote workforce comes with some unique challenges. When you’re leading virtual employees, likely from a remote setting yourself, it’s important to embrace digital tools that extend beyond email and understand the nuances of remote team operations. With the right strategies in place, you can manage an efficient and effective remote team.

Embrace Digital Communication Tools

When a team is comprised entirely of remote employee, it’s important for the manager and team members to have effective means of communication. You can create opportunities for idea-sharing and regular communication with digital platforms like:

  • Chat: Google Hangouts, Skype, Slack, Asana and other platforms allow for quick messaging and group conversations.
  • Video conferencing: Allows all employees to “meet” through video conferencing and/or web conferencing that allows for screen sharing so workers can have a meeting without being in the same physical location.
  • Project management software: You can eliminate lengthy email threads and speed up collaboration by using PM software that keeps everyone in the loop about where a project stands.
  • Collaboration tools: Google Drive, Dropbox, Office 365 and other platforms allow teams to collaborate on files so changes can be tracked while ensuring everyone is viewing and working off the most updated documents.

Develop and Enforce Solid Processes

Remote workers can develop their own processes and work habits that may be productive, but could conflict with the way you manage workflow as a team. Clear, standardized processes keep the team working in sync and allow employees to be more productive. A company wiki is an ideal way to share and update processes to ensure everyone is on the same page.

It is essential for managers to create a sense of team, which is more challenging for remote teams than teams where individuals interact in-person regularly. The additional effort required to stay in regular communication, ensure availability when an employee needs assistance and to form a social bond will help you build a stronger remote team over time.

Hire The Right People

Unfortunately, not everyone is cut out for remote work. It takes someone who is self-motivated, who isn’t afraid to speak up when they aren’t getting enough information to complete a task, and who isn’t afraid to build relationships with people they’ve never met in person.

If you are looking for motivated and talented sales and marketing professionals, contact the expert recruiters at Magnify Resources today. We can connect you with the talent that will help your ag business achieve its goals.

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