Productivity hacks help teams get work done more efficiently. However, productivity tips which apply in an office setting may not be relevant if you work with a remote team. It can be difficult to judge how effective a strategy has been if you’re not able to monitor your employees’ performance as vigilantly as you could in an office through an enterprise performance management strategy.
That’s why it’s important to modify your productivity hacks accordingly. The following tips will help managers ensure that their remote workers are getting work done with maximum efficiency. They’re designed specifically with leaders like you in mind.
Stay in Touch
Engagement is key to productivity. According to Gallup, companies with highly engaged workers are 21% more productive than companies with low levels of employee engagement.
Thus, you need to seek out ways to keep your workers enthusiastic about their jobs and the company in general. Communicating regularly is often effective in achieving this. Employee surveys indicate that workers are more likely to view their managers, and the organization as a whole, positively if they feel they have regular opportunities to communicate.
Establish processes for keeping in touch with your remote team. Make sure you both give and receive feedback; a balanced approach to communication is most effective.
Encourage Collaboration
The “water cooler effect” is well known among managers who want their teams to innovate and work more productively. When employees that work on separate tasks spend time conversing, they’re able to share ideas and help one another address weaknesses that may be impacting their efficiency.
Use communication tools to make sure your remote workers have the chance to collaborate. They’ll leverage each other’s, and the in-office team’s, strengths, resulting in greater productivity across the board.
Provide Time Tracking Software
It’s important to ensure your remote workers have the right tools to do their jobs. They can’t be productive if they lack the proper technology. Because they aren’t working from an office, you may need to provide this directly.
You should also provide them with time tracking software. This will simply tell them how they are using their time throughout the day. You can’t boost your productivity if you don’t first know where you are being unproductive.
Encourage a Dress Code
Remote workers who don’t need to report to an office often choose to dress far more casually than they would otherwise. This is understandable. However, it may have a negative impact on productivity.
This isn’t just speculation. Research indicates dressing as if you were going to work makes a person more productive. Thus, while you may not be able to enforce a dress code for remote workers, you can at least encourage one. At the very least, if they understand your expectations, your remote workers will be likely to dress accordingly during any video conferences you have together.
Offer Coworking Office Memberships
The environment in which a person works has a major impact on their productivity.
Working from home might be too distracting for a remote team. Additionally, they may not have access to all the tools and resources they need to complete tasks efficiently.
That’s why anyone managing a remote team should consider offering their team members the opportunity to work from a coworking space. This will help them stay focused, while also ensuring they have access to the necessary technology.
Set Short-Term & Long-Term Goals
With the right performance management software, it’s possible to set goals for both the long and the short term. More importantly, it makes it easier to monitor how successful your remote team has been at reaching those goals.
Your employees are likely to be more productive if they know you’re tracking their progress. You can enhance their productivity by offering incentives, like extra time off, public recognition, or monetary bonuses. According to a survey of UK-based workers, 85% report that incentives boost their motivation. They also feel the overall working atmosphere improves during periods when incentives are offered.
Thanks to digital technology, it’s easier than ever for managers to hire the best employees from anywhere in the world. This doesn’t mean you have to trade productivity for the convenience of working with remote teams. Apply these hacks, and you can enjoy the benefits of both.