Six months ago, you may have had some remote employees at your company – or not. But today, chances are, that picture looks very different. Where working from home was a growing trend before the coronavirus pandemic onset, it has now become the norm at many businesses.
Do you plan to allow your employees to continue to work from home, even when the crisis has passed? If so – or in the meantime – it’s important to measure their performance just as you would if they were on site.
What works for your employees works for your business.
Whether people are in the office, on the factory floor, or working from their spare-bedroom-cum-office, they’re all part of the same team. Position yourself as a good team leader via communication, transparency, and trust.
- Clearly define expectations and evaluate based on results. That’s right. It’s the same rule of thumb for every employee, regardless of where they’re located. Spell out tasks, deadlines, goals, and desired results. Keep communication lines open and remember, it’s a two-way street. Give people ample opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback at every stage of a project or assignment.
- Set SMART goals for every employee, remote or onsite. As a refresher, that stands for “specific, measurable, achievable, realistic” and “timely.” As noted by Mike Desjardins, founder of software solutions provider Ceres Logic, “If you’re measuring performance correctly in an office environment, there will be very little difference in how you evaluate a remote employee … Performance is best determined by outcomes, and when an employee is meeting measurable benchmarks.”
- Make sure every employee understands the entire scope of their activities. This way, they’re collaborating toward mutual goals, even if they’re working from a dozen or more different locations.
- View team activities regularly. Remote work requires an added focus on transparency. Be sure to include the entire team in every step of project planning and management as appropriate, and present them with the bigger picture.
- Keep things inclusive. All individuals should know how they fit in, what is required of them, and their specific deliverables. If people understand how their roles align with overall company results, this transforms every task into a team effort.
Trust is the foundation of good relationships.
Unless you have evidence otherwise, believe that your employees are working at their best level of performance and commitment, even if they’re not in your building. Stay in touch with them and hold frequent one-on-one reviews – because they may be less likely to ask for input when they don’t see you daily. But let them spread their creative wings and fly – wherever their launch site may be.
Need more advice on acclimating to the “new normal” and managing remote teams? Contact the staffing and workforce development experts at PrideStaff Modesto today. We’re with you every step of the way as you keep your business strong and your people safe, happy, and engaged.
