10 Things to Avoid When Managing Remote Workers

Remote work isn’t a new phenomenon. Before there was Zoom and Skype, remote workers in 1973 did “telework”. Today, it’s not uncommon to see employees work from practically anywhere. The option of working remotely has become somewhat mandatory for companies to access broad talent pools.

Although remote work has its cons, it’s pretty beneficial and is expected to have a bright future with significant growth in the next decade or so. The reality is that everyone would rather work in the comfort of their own homes than have to commute to the office everyday. Not to mention, remote employee productivity is actually higher than office productivity. A report by Flexjobs states that 66% of remote workers felt their productivity skyrocketed.

This all seems really good for remote workers, but what about remote managers or employers? Managing employees can be difficult, especially if you can’t reach them— which is something that often happens with remote teams. Time zones and geographical barriers often get in the way of teamwork.

It may look like the employees are getting all the perks. Trouble at work, difficult workers, and workplace quandaries don’t just happen in the office. It can also happen in a remote office. Before you get too scared of the idea of remote work, we’re here to help you out.

In this article, we’re going to list ten tips to help you avoid these fatal mistakes when it comes to managing remote workers.

A good way to crumble a remote team and annoy remote workers is by micromanaging. When you can’t see the person working with you, you might be tempted to give them a hand with their work or check to see if they’re doing it right. If you’re concerned about an employee’s work, the last thing you want to do is micromanage them.

Micromanaging is different from mandatory follow-ups. It’s when you contact your team every hour and disturb their workflow. So, don’t make the mistake of micromanaging your team and let yourself give your team some autonomy. Managers should focus on quality of work and results instead of processes.

A lack of expectations and remote work is a recipe for disaster. A team without any goals, objectives, or KPIs is pretty much a ship without a captain wandering aimlessly around the ocean.

For a team to function properly, a manager needs to establish certain expectations and explain what goals they want the team to achieve. When establishing these expectations, remember to stick to SMART goals.

A SMART goal is:

• Specific,
• Measurable,
• Attainable,
• Relevant
• and Time-bound.

It’s important for goals to be specific enough, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. When they don’t fit into these categories, they are often too broad and difficult to attain. This can cause frustration.

With a rapid stream of technology improvements, recruiters must hire someone who can relate to the recent business trends. The new hires they recruit must be able to utilize software, apps, or other digital devices linked to their jobs.

Some skills mentioned above should be companies’ main focus when recruiting employees in the digital transformation era. Examining candidates’ prior education and experiences are crucial to ensure they can accomplish their responsibilities.

The worst thing you can do when managing remote workers is “wing it” or “go with the flow”. This will not just waste time and resources, but it will also result in a lot of disappointment. When managing a remote team, you need to start strong and craft an actionable plan to follow.

Think of the plan as a map to maneuver through the work. When you have a plan in place, your team will have an easier time delivering results and you won’t have to deal with wasted time and resources.

Although it’s important for managers to have an air of authority, you don’t want to scare your team to the point where they find you unapproachable. Doing this will close off any possibilities of discussion and conversation, leading to miscommunication.

Remote work relies highly on communication, so when you make yourself unavailable, you’re in for a disaster.

Communication is key when it comes to remote work. Compared to working in an office, remote workers rely fully on online communication. We all know things can get lost in translation when we email or call. When you have zero communication, it can be hard to establish expectations and deliver feedback when needed.

So, keep your virtual door open and encourage your team to communicate with you and their fellow team members. Good communication will help build a team and help them achieve their goals.

It can be challenging to write instructions, especially if you have a lot to say. But when you avoid giving clear instructions, your team will suffer. Managing remote teams requires you to be articulate and clear in giving directions.

So, if you have trouble typing up directions, another thing you can do is record a video or use a conference call to explain to your team what you want them to do.

Time management is crucial if you want to manage your remote workers well. When you work remotely, it can be easy to work overtime. This can happen if you’re working comfortably from your home. However, your team might not feel the same way. They have their own lives and hobbies outside of work.

To avoid work fatigue, focus on managing your team’s schedule and time well. This way, your team won’t be overworked and they’ll be much more productive.

Another thing you should avoid is not getting to know your team. It can be hard to learn about your team if you don’t see them on a regular basis. It’s a challenge to build teams remotely but thanks to the pandemic in 2020, there are a lot of online tools and activities that can be used for team-building activities.

You don’t have to conduct a team-building event every week. A simple conversation asking them how your team is doing, asking them questions, and just talking about anything is a good way to get started.

Mistakes are inevitable and they are excellent tools for learning new things. This doesn’t mean that you should let your remote team off the hook when they make a mistake. Implement a culture of accountability to set the right standards and manage your team well.

Implementing accountability will also help build trust and credibility with your team. This is a habit that’s built through time, so the earlier you start, the better.

Online meetings can be boring and you will have the urge to rush through them. Compared to an in-person meeting, it can be hard to chime in and conversations might seem awkward. When you are struggling in a virtual meeting, don’t rush through them. As a manager, focus on making sure that the meeting points are delivered clearly and without misunderstandings.

Rushing through meetings can cause a lot of miscommunication and it can foster a toxic environment. So, take it slow and ensure that your team gets the information you need them to hear and that you are able to hear what your team is trying to say as well.

Managing a remote team can be hard work. Miscommunication and challenges are bound to get in the way, but don’t let that stop you from building a successful dream remote team. With these tips, we’re sure you’ll be able to get your remote team on track and ready to tackle any challenges that come your way.

Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video production company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).