The world of remote workers is larger than ever. With it comes opportunities for companies to scale in ways that weren’t possible only a few years ago. Employees can work across the globe and be just as productive as they were in the office. However, this is only if they’re provided with the tools and resources to thrive and grow into their dream career. As employers, we need to monitor how we’re empowering employees to ensure they are as happy – and connected – as possible in the modern digital age. So how do we do this?
Frequent feedback
In the digital age, it’s easy to take a “set it and forget it” approach to employee management. You provide an employee with an assignment and wait until they return with the finished product and discuss. However, this is not conducive to long-term productivity or long-term learning. Especially in a training environment, employees must receive frequent feedback since they’re more isolated than if they were in an office. Nobody is around to lean over their shoulder and offer help at home, so employers need to make an effort to do so.
Prioritize the importance of unplugging
With a greater gray area around what it means to unplug in our current landscape, communicating the importance of stepping away from work devices is crucial. Every day as a remote worker, there is a constant bombardment of electronic devices and apps asking you to review something. And this doesn’t stop at the end of your self-identified workday. Allow employees to set boundaries and step in when employees are trying to work 24/7. While it may be admirable in the short run, employees will begin to burn out in the long run, and everyone in your business will pay the price.
Document and communicate more than you think you need to
In the digital world of remote work, miscommunication is constant. Whether due to an unclear tone in an email or someone’s audio cutting out in a big meeting, miscommunications are a considerable challenge among remote workers. By documenting more than you would usually, you can ensure everyone is on the same page and allow everyone to access materials when needed. The more clearly and succinct information can be communicated in a remote environment, the more we can minimize unnecessary back and forth communications.
We all want to maximize our productivity in a remote environment. However, success ultimately depends on employers making the strides to make their remote workers feel comfortable and empowered to advocate for themselves to perform their best. Regardless of how great we get at working remotely, there is always room to grow. And at NTG Staffing, we can help! Contact us today for your remote staffing needs to help your business thrive.
