Five Ways to Keep Your Remote Employees Motivated
Hiring remote employees can have a significant positive impact on your company’s bottom line. However, you need to treat remote employees well if you wish to continue enjoying their services. Failure to do so may result in them leaving your organization and taking a job with one of your competitors. Below are five ways you can keep your remote employees happy and motivated:
Communicate Regularly
Make sure that you check in with your off-site employees regularly. You can use tools like Slack and Google Hangouts to speak with them and find out how they are progressing with the jobs that you have assigned them. You can also use performance management systems that allow employees to submit reports on work progress, ask questions, and stay in touch with other members of their team.
Avoid Micromanaging Them
The opportunity to work at their own pace and manage their own schedule is a major reason why people choose to work remotely. As a result, you should avoid micromanaging remote workers by calling incessantly, sending too many emails, or generally making them feel like you don’t trust them to do their job properly. Instead, give them reasonable deadlines and touch base with them periodically for updates.
Make Timely Payments
If your remote workers are contractors and not W2 employees, it is vital that you pay them on time. Doing so shows that you respect their work and allows them to pay their bills and handle other expenses without resorting to borrowing. Late payments may also make remote employees start looking for alternative jobs to make ends meet. After a while, they may decide that they prefer their second job and choose to leave your company entirely.
Outline Company Goals Clearly
Your remote workers need to know what your company’s goals are and how they fit into those goals. This knowledge helps them to feel like they are part of the team. If you are lucky, your remote employees may even have some suggestions that will help you reach your goals more quickly or efficiently.
Reward High Performers
Reward workers who perform consistently by offering promotions, giving them cash bonuses, providing with technology perks, or treating them to a meal delivery service. However, keep in mind that sometimes the most successful sales incentive programs are not cash-based. Doing so will let them know you appreciate their hard work, motivating them to keep it up.
In Conclusion
Keeping your remote workforce motivated ensures that they continue to perform to the best of their abilities. By following the advice laid out in this article, you will be able to keep your off-site employees happy and enthusiastic for many years to come.