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9 Ways to Empower a Remote Workforce

Remote working is not a fleeting trend or perk only available in Silicon Valley tech startups. It is part of a global transformation that can be seen across all company functions and industries.

75%

of U.S. employees are expected to work remotely at least once a week by 2020.

If your company hasn’t already embraced a more modern workplace, chances are it will soon. Are you prepared to manage and empower a remote workforce?

Recreate the office experience

Ensuring that remote employees have a dedicated home office or workspace equipped with the right tools for the job is the first step to empowerment. Multiple monitors, a webcam, and quality headset promote productivity, efficient collaboration with team members, and ultimately set employees up for success. A welcome kit with company swag—notebooks, pens, branded drinkware, and/or posters—help your employee feel invested in the company and solidifies them as a valued member of the team.

Happy employees are 12% more productive

University of Warwick

Foster a sense of community

A study conducted by the University of Warwick found that “happy employees are 12% more productive” and fostering a sense of trust, empathy, and community is key in creating a positive work environment. Include remote workers in meetings, team building activities, team outings, and celebrations to support team inclusivity. Additionally, encouraging a healthy dynamic between coworkers by promoting small talk and virtual water cooler moments helps build a positive rapport between on-site and remote employees.

Include remote employees in on-site company events

It’s easy to overlook remote employees when planning company events, but doing so can result in resentment and your employees feeling undervalued. Plan office visits to coincide with company events, team building activities and other celebrations. This allows team members to bond in person and helps ensure that everyone feels equally valued within their teams and in the company as a whole. If an in-person visit isn’t an option, town halls and other company meetings can be easily shared with all employees through digital meeting spaces.

Establish a clear remote working policy

Setting and communicating clear expectations is key to remote employee success, so it comes as no surprise that a formal remote working policy is a must. Communicate expectations for performance, project timelines, etc. and set official rules regarding attendance, work schedule, and time off. This policy should be documented and available for reference by all employees at any time. Having a formal policy ensures that everyone is on the same page and accountable for following the standardized protocol.

50%

of total communication is non-verbal gestures and body language.

Utilize video conferencing

Empower your remote employees with more than just a voice and give them a physical presence in meetings through video conferencing. Virtual meetings are also proven to enhance communication and collaboration, building teamwork and boosting productivity.

Stay connected: Plan face-to-face time

Scheduled reoccurring meetings between you and your team assures consistent communication to review project statuses, performance, and goals. During these meetings, video conferencing can help close the geographical gap. A simple connection like this can make the distance between remote and on-site employees feel much smaller. Reoccurring meetings help remote workers understand their respective roles in the company and team hierarchies, as well as help them with conflict resolution. Video also allows remote employees to have a visual and more obvious presence in meetings, allowing them to feel more engaged and included, instead of sitting quietly on a conference line.

Video coffee breaks or pseudo-water cooler moments between team members allow employees to feel like part of a team and help to instill a sense of mutual responsibility.

Schedule informal meetings

While it’s great to stay connected through formal meetings, informal discussions to catch up and connect with your remote employees—and for them to do the same with co-workers — is vital. Informal meetings allow team members to connect on a deeper level, increasing their dedication and improving collaboration.

7x

more likely to engage when employees have a close friend at work

Gallup research poll

Implement a buddy program

When starting a new position as a remote employee, it’s extremely easy to feel isolated. A buddy program—pairing remote employees with another colleague—is a great way to initiate your new employee into the company and team. The buddy will be able to give the remote worker a feel for the company culture, team members, internal systems, and corporate policies. When paired up, colleagues learn to communicate more easily and often, and to share (rather than hide) problems and solutions—all of which increases overall information flow and team alignment.

Provide employees with the tools to succeed

Because every company, department, team, employee, etc. is unique, empowering your remote workforce isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. These tips are a great start, but it’s important that you look at your specific situation to see what else can be done to ensure success for your remote workers. Do they have a dedicated office or do they need a co-work solution nearby? Do they need additional monitors or a higher quality headset or webcam? Do you have a quality conferencing software in place that is easy for all your employees to use? Ask yourself—and your employee!—what they need to succeed.

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