Post pandemic, we are still in a world of remote work. There are thousands of managers and business leaders who find themselves suddenly managing a remote team with no experience and knowledge on how to do so. That can be a scary reality, especially if you didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for the transition. Here are a few tips on managing a remote team to ensure productivity and success:

1. Communicate

It is more important than ever to communicate with your remote workers. If your employees are used to an office environment, it can be common for them to feel a sense of loneliness and isolation. We advise establishing structured daily check-ins. Many successful remote managers establish a daily call with their remote employees. This shows your employees that you care about them and that their questions and concerns will be heard.

2. Create & Manage Expectations

If your employees are suddenly forced into remote work, it can be challenging for them to understand what is expected of them in this uncertain time. As a manager, it is important to clearly define the scope deadlines and deliverables of each task. You can set yourself and your team up for success by clearly stating both the tasks and the reasons behind them, and help your team understand exactly how you will measure success.

3. Take Advantage of Technology

While email and text messages may be an easy way to communicate with remote employees, you should incorporate other communications tools like Zoom or Slack, where employees can collaborate and communicate with each other more effectively via video conference or chat rooms. After all, as a manager, it is your job to keep your team connected.

4. Focus on Accomplishment, Not Activity

It can be hard to switch your management style to focus more on goals, instead of daily activity. We advise avoiding micromanaging daily tasks. Instead, concentrate on what is being accomplished. If your team is meeting their goals, then great. If not, you should investigate the situation further. In this time of uncertainty, remote work should be about accomplishment, not activity. – Donald Hatter, Donald Hatter Inc.

5. Provide opportunities for remote social interaction

Regular social interaction with your coworkers can be easily taken for granted until you cannot go into an office full of people every day. As well as communicating daily with your team, you can go above and beyond and provide opportunities for remote social interactions. Host a virtual happy hour or create a group chat for conversations not pertaining to work. Give your employees an avenue to express themselves and communicate with coworkers on nonrelated work items. Maintaining human connection during this time is so important, and can make your employees more productive. For more career advice, check out our blog!