Employment statistics show that remote workers are on the increase. This is obviously due to a continuous advancement in the workplace technology. Employees are better managed, retained and allowed to work flexibly through remote employment. Managers gain opportunities to work with a team that is made up of members in different locations and effectively handling the proximity limitations while managing remote employees. In fact, remote employment is a huge blessing to management when properly utilized. However, it requires managers to possess relevant skills on how to manage remote employees.

To enjoy the benefits of employing remote workers, most organizations now go extra mile such as organizing training and re-training of their managers on how to handle potential challenges in managing remote employees. This enables the acquisition of relevant skills to manage remote workers.

Meanwhile, in many ways, the management of remote employees is similar to that of on-site management. The job description still remains to ensure that your employees are guided, nurtured and supported in every way possible. Below are the necessary skills to manage remote workers.

Communication skills

One thing with most managers who have been able to manage remote employees is constant communication. Your employees need to be conscious of a constant communication. Through effective communication, trust and respect are built. Communication is also an avenue for managers to inquire about workloads and the level of progress made. The pattern and the mode of communication may vary but consistency is required.

Relationship Skills

It’s always important that beyond work, team and relationship are built. As distant as your remote employees can be from you, forming personal bonds with them is key to getting the best from them. While they work for you, it’s vital that time is taken to inquire about their families and personal lives. Bring up conversations that will strengthen individual relationships as well as the team spirit in general.

Availability

To manage remote employees efficiently, managers must devise means to be available always. The success of the manager lies in his ability to be readily available all the time. With open door policies and multiple means of communication, managers should ensure that their remote employees can access them anytime the need arises.

Transparency and Accountability

One way to get effective response and commitment from remote workers is transparency. Managers are required to be transparent with their staff, including the remote employees. They need to know and trust in your quality of decision making. Employees that know the reasons behind crucial decisions are more and easily committed to responding positively, mostly if they trust the manager’s transparency.

Teams and organizations grow when employee management is efficient; this includes how remote employees are managed. Managing remote employees may also require more from managers aside from the listed skills on remote employee management.

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