Three Top Tips For Motivating a Remote Workforce
Does your business currently have remote workers? Or are you looking to move towards a home working culture but are concerned about how your managers will cope with motivating their employees?
If so, then it’s a good idea for you to start planning sooner rather than later. Plan exactly how you’re going to direct your manager and team leaders so that you can inspire and drive their teams to success.
Did you know that the number of remote workers in the UK has increased by over a quarter of a million in the last decade, with 70% of workers stating that employers that offer flexible working opportunities are more attractive to them? These statistics clearly demonstrate that remote working is the way forward for businesses in the UK, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have concerns as a company about how this working strategy will affect your business.
Fortunately, there are ways in which you can ensure that your managers are able to not only motivate their staff but even make them more productive, more engaged, as well as boost overall morale.
Focus on fostering strong relationships
It can be more challenging for managers to build strong interpersonal relationships with their staff via virtual means, but this doesn’t mean that it cannot be done.
Firstly, you need to be aware that it can take longer to foster these relationships than in a team that works face-to-face. Still, with the right tools and consistent effort on both sides, your managers will be able to motivate and engage with their employees effectively.
It is recommended that you try and meet new staff in person at least once in the first six months of employment, ideally more, so that you can make that initial connection. If this is not possible, then regular video chats can be just as effective.
Do not micromanage
It can be all too easy for managers to fall into the trap of micromanaging their remote employees due to worries that they are either not working as productively as they should, or they have not understood what is required of them. Unfortunately, this can lead to remote workers not feeling trusted and incapable of carrying out their job, which can lead to less productivity.
Instead, managers need to be taught how to use technology effectively to communicate with their remote staff, offering support and advice where needed but without being overbearing or counterproductive.
It is also a good idea for managers and employees to have channels where they can communicate about non-work related topics, as this can help foster stronger relationships and offer an outlet for building social connections.
Provide training and development opportunities
It is important that remote workers feel just as invested in the company that they work for as employees who carry out their duties in the office. Therefore, it is crucial that your managers understand the importance of offering ongoing training and career development opportunities if they want their remote workforce to stay committed to the business.
As well as providing training options, managers also need to schedule in regular time to discuss the career aspirations and goals of their remote workers, in order to ensure that they feel supported in their career and able to progress within the company.
If you would like to explore how you can help your managers overcome any challenges they are currently facing in motivating their remote workforce, then please get in touch with us here today or call 01252 737536.
