A remote workforce is a group of employees within an organisation who primarily work off-site from a location other than a traditional office. While there’s no consensus on a minimum number, the term “remote workforce” usually indicates that there are several employees who usually work from remote locations. In some companies, all employees work remotely. This approach is referred to as “remote only.” Some companies allow most employees to primarily work from another location, but they still have few people who are regularly required to perform their jobs from a centralised office. This approach is called “remote-first.”
 
What is remote workforce management?

Remote workforce management is the method of effectively leading and directing remote employees. It is typically a mix of communication, processes and technology, which are specifically designed to lead a productive remote workforce. Companies that invest more in successful remote people management are able to manage work without spending extra money.

Best practices for managing remote employees

Remote work can be highly productive if it is done properly and effectively. Here are some tips and best practices for effectively managing a remote workforce:

Establish clear guidelines and expectations

You should avoid micromanaging your employees because you don’t want to leave them guessing at your expectations regarding work schedules, goals, performance tracking and other important aspects of their job.

Set up regular check-ins

Check updates regularly. Create both one-on-one and team opportunities for the betterment of remote workers. These things help you in evaluating their performances. These could be daily or less frequent, depending on team culture and needs.

Don’t just talk, listen

Make sure your communications will be multi-directional, meaning you’re not just handing down updates or mandates but truly listening to your team members. Take feedback on all aspects of the remote work experience. Check in with them periodically about how they’re doing in general, not only for project updates.

Invest in technology

Choosing shortcuts with digital tools definitely causes problems. To avoid these problems, give remote workers dynamic, easy-to-use tools for meeting, sharing information and all other aspects of their daily routines. Also, ensure these technologies are well-designed for web and mobile experiences. 

Celebrate achievements

Make sure that you always recognise the good results of your team and individuals. And never forget to share the company's achievements with remote employees. It can be a common mistake to forget the importance of celebrating individual and team achievements when people aren’t working in the same location.

Make time for social interaction

Even a remote workforce can get together outside of work. For example, virtual game nights or happy hours are relatively easy to put together on your business platforms.  

Read More: Best Ways to Effectively Manage A Remote Workforce

Trust people

Remote workforce management depends on trust. If people are worried that their managers are doubting their remote engagement or looking over their shoulders virtually. Their performance will suffer. Focus more on results than on “desk time.”
 
What are the challenges of managing a remote team?

There are several challenges involved in managing remote employees. The problems are rooted in the need for physical, in-person interaction. It is hard for team leaders to see the warning signs of common workforce issues, such as low morale, burnout, interpersonal conflict, miscommunication or lack of communication.

Other common remote workforce management challenges include:

●    Distraction: Remote workers may be more likely to deal with interruptions or other distractions in their daily routine, especially if they work from home. These could include children or family members, home maintenance or chores, street noise and many other possible sources of distraction.

●    Isolation: Some remote workers report struggling with social isolation, which can have various negative impacts. Even if people don’t feel isolated, the physical separation of people on a team can also make it difficult to foster a collaborative, healthy culture.

●    Communication: There might be multiple communication issues that you should guard against.  Such issues include over-communication (such as constantly checking in on a project status) and miscommunication or people being left out (even incidentally) of an information-sharing loop.
 
Technology issues such as poor Internet connections (or outages) can also create remote workforce management challenges.
 
What are the best tools to manage a remote employee?

The best tools may depend on a team’s specific job duties and can also change with the change of business or industry needs. Several types of workforce management tools are widely considered essential. These tools mainly fall into the following categories:

Communication

Email still remains the first choice in the business world. But remote teams also incorporate other communication channels into their routines, like chat apps (like Slack) and social collaboration apps.

Meetings

Meetings are also an important form of communication. Effective tools for meetings are essential to establish collaboration between a company's leading authority and remote employees. They include tools for video conferencing, virtual presentations, whiteboarding and more. Some of the most popularly used meeting tools include Google Meet, Zoom, and Skype. 

Project management and tracking

It is necessary to watch remote employees progress on a regular basis. Because they are not working in front of their higher officials. So, the need for tracking gets more important day by day. ProHance is among the top workforce management software that help companies track projects and the workforce in real-time. 

File sharing and storage

Remote teams need efficient and secure ways to share and store documents and other files. A convenient sharing and storage system helps higher officials in analysing and evaluating processes. 

Conclusion

In this era of dynamic business scenarios, choosing a remote workforce can be a strategic advantage. To maximise the potential of remote teams and accelerate growth, some necessary measures must be introduced. Organisations must handle challenges and implement effective tools and strategies.

ProHance, with its comprehensive workforce management solutions and expert support will be an authentic resource in running the business. This workforce management software is designed to tackle remote work challenges. It offers centralised communication, project management, and document-sharing tools, enhancing collaboration between remote teams. It also enhances performance by setting clear goals, tracking progress, and providing feedback. ProHance also boosts engagement through recognition programs and internal social media tools to create a positive work environment.