5 Tips for Managing Remote Workers That Will Earn Your Team a Gold Medal

Aug 22, 2016

managing remote workers

When it comes to productivity and engagement, remote workers are the gold medal winners of the workforce. But like the world-class athletes who compete in the Olympics, their stellar performance wouldn’t be possible without good coaching.

In a recent Tech.co article on managing remote workers, entrepreneurs discussed how to ensure accountability, open communication and greater productivity in remote teams. Here are five solid management tips that, if followed, will put your wahves on the winners’ podium:

1. Communicate often: “Communication is key with remote employees. Try your best to do weekly phone calls or video calls to give updates and get their feedback.” — Samuel Sternweiler, CEO, JEWELv

2. Set clear goals: “Getting the most out of a remote team requires setting clear goals and direction, not changing them often, and more importantly, continuing to articulate the goals multiple times.” — Ajit Sancheti, CEO, Preempt

3. Delegate work: “The key to working with a remote team is delegation. One of the biggest mistakes you can make as the leader of a remote team is micromanagement. I delegate specific tasks that require narrow expertise and I trust my team.” — Lora Ivanova, CMO, myLAB Box

4. Stop worrying: “A lot of managers of remote teams are hung up on the idea of ‘are they working?’ and ‘how do I make sure they’re working?’ If an employee has clear expectations, honest metrics for success and the tools to get the work done, they will get it done regardless of if they’re in the office or working from home.” — Wayne Turmel, product line manager, Remote Leadership Institute

5. Appreciate your team: “When working remotely, you can feel like you’re working in a void and that what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Helping people feel like they are a big part of the team and … how they are contributing to the bigger picture is paramount.” — Alexis Monson, cofounder, Punkpost

Communicating, setting clear goals, delegating — aren’t these the qualities of a good manager anyway? Yes, but you’d be surprised how many fail to do them. Successful managers of remote teams have perfected these skills and are competing at Olympic levels. You can, too, if you put your mind to it and keep your eye on the prize.

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