How to Keep Remote Employees Motivated and Increase Productivity

As the trend of remote work continues to grow, an increasing number of employees are struggling with feelings of isolation and disconnection from colleagues. In these circumstances, managers need to develop new techniques to support and motivate their remote teams.

Communicating effectively with employees who work in different locations and at irregular hours can be a challenge, but it can be done. Here are few tips for motivating your remote employees to strengthen team collaboration and maximize productivity.

Set Clear Expectations 

Even employees who are used to remote working can benefit from clear guidance. To help everyone on your team understand what is expected of them, create a guide that all remote workers can access. The guide should answer the following questions, at the very least: 

• How often do you want employees to check in with you? 

• Which collaboration tools should employees be using? 

• Which communication channels should be used for which purposes? 

• When should employees be available? 

• How should employees track their time, and how should they schedule breaks? 

• How soon do you expect a response to an email during working hours? 

• How frequent are remote meetings, and who can arrange meetings? 

• How should employees look after their mental and physical well-being? 

Regularly Check In With Employees 

Collaboration is key to a productive workforce, but effective communication is impossible without the right tools in place. While online interaction is convenient and expected, company cell phones are critical for employees who travel or need to respond quickly to issues as they arise.

Encourage colleagues to use online platforms for informal chats. However, to make sure no one feels excluded, regularly check in with individual team members, offering support when necessary. When you can, make a phone call instead of using online platforms or email; hearing someone's voice is more personal and can reduce feelings of isolation. Ask employees what challenges they're facing, and explain what support you can offer.

Focus on Outcomes (Not Outputs) 

Following on from the last point, there's a fine line between checking in with employees and micromanaging. Micromanaging is one of the least effective ways to motivate your team. Instead, focus on the results achieved by individuals and teams. Recognizing the achievements of employees is key to boosting employee motivation. In one employee survey, the most important factor in employee engagement was recognition (1).  When you recognize accomplishments made by team members, it shows you value their efforts and creates an atmosphere of healthy competition between employees.

Use a Task Management Tool 

One of the most effective ways to highlight accomplishments, maximize productivity, and motivate a team is by using a visual platform that keeps track of projects and goals. For this reason, you should take advantage of task management tools such as Asana, Trello, Product Board, or Basecamp so that employees can report on work progress.

Send Out Pulse Surveys 

Simple online tools such as Google Forms can be used to evaluate employee satisfaction. Alternatively, send out weekly or monthly email surveys, asking employees for feedback. Here are a few example questions you could ask: 

• How are you coping with remote work? 

• Are you happy with communication channels and frequency of communication? 

• Do you have all the tools you need to work effectively? 

• Are you happy with the support you receive from management? 

Regularly monitor the feedback to understand how employees are feeling and to determine what steps you need to take to improve productivity and boost motivation levels. Crucially, tell employees what steps you are taking in response to their feedback.

Schedule Video Meetings for Work and Socializing 

Feeling disconnected from the company and colleagues is a common experience of remote workers. According to management consulting company Gallup, perceived workplace isolation can lead to as much as a 21 percent drop in performance (2). Because of this, it's important to support employees' well-being by offering online spaces where team members can discuss work and socialize.

Consider holding weekly video sessions to bring teams together. Virtual meetings allow employees to discuss challenges and explore solutions as a team. Furthermore, encourage employees to arrange video meetings with colleagues to chat about things that aren't related to work.

Set Up Your Remote Team for Success 

To get the best results from a remote workforce, businesses must adapt by balancing the needs of remote employees with the company's goals. In the years ahead, the most successful businesses will be the ones that can fine-tune their work processes to meet an evolving virtual workforce's needs.

Creating the right environment for remote workers to flourish requires open communication and a more flexible, creative approach. By giving every employee clear guidelines and practical tools for working remotely, you can strengthen team collaboration, improve team morale, and ultimately increase your entire team's productivity.

Sources: 

1. greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/creating-a-culture-of-recognition

2. gallup.com/workplace/235811/end-traditional-manager.aspx