How to Manage Remote Direct Reports
- What the Experts Say. One of the biggest misconceptions about managing remote workers is that it requires an entirely different skillset.
- Set expectations.
- Visit on a predictable schedule.
- Encourage communication.
- Spark impromptu interactions.
- Nurture familiarity.
- Make them feel part of the team.
- Principles to Remember.
If you want to help your employees feel connected and engaged, especially in times of crisis such as COVID-19, follow these 20 advices:
- Give employees a sense of belonging.
- Define goals for remote workers.
- Improve your overall internal communications strategy.
- Communicate regularly.
- Check in frequently and be proactive.
Let's go:
- Set Tasks With Deadlines. In a remote team, there are always some employees who invest themselves fully while others only work just enough not to get fired.
- View Team Activity Regularly.
- Track Employee Internet Usage.
- Monitor When Employees Are at Their Desk.
- Supervise Employees Remotely.
- End of Day Report Summary.
The 5 Best Communication Tools for Businesses of Any Size
- Asana. Available on Android, iOs and Web.
- Slack. Available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and web.
- SocialChorus. Available on Android, iOs and web.
- Uberconference. Available on the web.
- 8x8. Available on Android, iOs, Windows and web.
Online collaboration tools are web-based applications that offer basic services such as instant messaging for groups, mechanisms for file sharing and collaborative search engines (CSE) to find information distributed within the system of the organization, community or team.
Collaboration is Google Drive's killer feature, so it's not surprising that several team-oriented tools have integrated Drive into their services. By connecting your Google account with one of these robust collaboration apps, you can easily add files to projects, link them to tasks, or share them with team members.
8 Best Virtual Team Tools for Communication and Collaboration
- 1 Google Hangouts. This virtual team communication tool offers services of video calling which is like Skype video conference call.
- 2 ezTalks Cloud Meeting. This is without a doubt one of the best collaboration tools for virtual teams.
- 3 Slack.
- 4 Skype.
- 5 WebEx Meeting Center.
- 6 Dropbox.
- 7 TeamViewer.
- 8 Scoro.
There are a variety of online tools that can help you keep your team humming along daily.
- Asana. Asana is a straightforward cloud-based tool for communicating with your team without relying on hundreds of convoluted email threads.
- When I Work.
- IDoneThis.
- Basecamp.
- Buffer.
- GoToMeeting.
- Slack.
- Dropbox.
With the advent of remote work, many platforms allow you to find jobs that are specifically hiring remote employees.
- FlexJobs.
- Remote OK.
- UpWork.
- Virtual Vocations.
- We Work Remotely.
Remote collaboration can be defined as a process that can be used to eliminate limitations of geographic location and developing team-spirit between the members of the teams of a business, regardless of their location in this world.
Collaborative software or groupware is application software designed to help people working on a common task to attain their goals. The use of collaborative software in the work space creates a collaborative working environment (CWE).
For many telecommuting positions, especially customer service and lead generation, you're going to need a landline. What this means is you'll need to have service through a traditional or digital telephone provider. Cell phone and VoIP services like Skype, Google Voice, and Magic Jack are generally NOT permitted.
Here are 5 habits we have found to lead to success in remote sales.
- Keep the business end at the start of the day.
- Make it routine.
- Implement processes.
- Leverage tech and engage.
- Focus on the outcome.
6 Ways to Keep Your Team Productive While Working From Home
- Equip your team with tech and productivity tools.
- Establish daily check-ins.
- Encourage dedicated workspaces.
- Provide emotional and steady support.
- Dress for success.
- Don't forget about non-work interactions and team building.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers generally only have to pay employees for the hours they actually work, whether at home or at the employer's office.
Enable Remote Desktop on your work computer.
For Windows users, click on Start→Control Panel→ System→Remote Desktop. Check the box that says "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer." Write down the full name of your work computer. You will need this later when you connect from home.And, for the most part, it is. Companies that encourage and support remote work often report higher levels of employee retention and engagement, reduced turnover, higher employee satisfaction, increased productivity and autonomy, and lots of other benefits.
The study found that working from home not only benefits employees by eliminating their daily commutes, it also increases productivity and leads to healthier lifestyles. It's a win-win situation that workers relish for its flexibility – but often at the cost of their work-life balance.
Top 10 Advantages of Working from Home
- Flexible schedule.
- Custom environment.
- Cozy clothes.
- It's easier to make calls.
- Knock off some weekend to-do's.
- No office distractions.
- Zero commuting.
- Save money.
Working from home means you'll learn to rely on self-motivation, self-discipline, focus, and concentration. “As you work through your career, those are really critical components for success,” says Fay. “It sounds simple and obvious but the time management and scheduling you have to do is an important skill to have.”
