The invention of new technologies and the dawn of the Internet have allowed most people to start working remotely. And with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have shifted to the remote work model, allowing their employees to work from home instead of requiring them to report to the office.

There are several benefits to remote work for both the employer and the employees. For instance, it allows business owners to minimize their overall operating costs, access a larger talent pool, and improve employee retention. All these things help improve business efficiency and productivity. On the employees’ end, remote work allows for more flexible work schedules, minimizes or completely removes the hassle of commuting, improves work-life balance, and much more.

That said, though there are several benefits to remote work, it doesn’t instantly guarantee your business’s success and improvement. If you want the remote work model to help your business, you will need to manage your remote employees and the virtual business environment effectively.

To accomplish this, here are some tips you may want to implement.

1. Secure Your System 

Though remote work could be ideal in the modern world, it can also expose your business to certain risks. With most data being online these days, hackers and other unauthorized entities can easily access business systems and steal information. If they somehow breach your system, they will be able to steal your digital assets, intellectual properties, and even your customers’ or employees’ data. That’s why it should be one of your top priorities to secure your systems.

That said, one of the best ways to secure your business systems is by outsourcing your IT functions. You can entrust your business’s computing systems and infrastructure to a reliable IT services and solutions company like Tenecom or similar firms. These IT service providers have a team of professionals who can handle all your IT needs.

There are several benefits to working with IT service providers. For one, with their expertise, they can help protect your system by assessing which areas are at risk and implementing strong security measures. They can put software or tools in place that will ensure that no one can access your data without your permission. In addition, IT service providers can provide backup solutions for your business data, which minimizes risk in the event of data loss.

With an IT firm handling all your IT tasks, this allows you more time to focus on other important functions, such as the management of your remote employees.

2. Set Realistic Goals 

Setting realistic goals is a fundamental aspect of managing your virtual business environment. Since most goals are expected to be achieved within a certain period, you need to be able to determine which goals are achievable for each remote worker.

The best way to do this is by taking major tasks and breaking them down into smaller ones. This prevents your employees from feeling overwhelmed and allows them to track their progress better. The more tasks they accomplish, the more motivated they may feel, and it enables them to make steady progress and possibly increase their productivity.

After setting these goals, you need to ensure that you communicate these clearly to each member of your virtual team so that they know what’s expected of them. Remember to clearly define how these tasks contribute to the business’s goals, as this could encourage them to work harder to achieve the set objectives.

3. Provide The Right Tools

Your remote workers will need certain tools to help them perform their daily tasks. To ensure smoother workflow and to maximize your employees’ productivity, you should provide them with the right ones. Since these are a necessary asset for your business, you may want to integrate the latest technologies. These will work better to improve efficiency and productivity over outdated software and applications.

4. Boost Your Communication 

When it comes to managing a virtual business environment, communication is an essential aspect that shouldn’t be ignored. It’s vital to keep all your employees updated on the state of your business and the progress being made.

Though there’s no shortage of tools available for business communication, it would be best to use those that are modern and up-to-date. These days, there are new technologies that allow users to utilize chatbots and other live chat applications, so you can communicate with your employees, as well as with fellow stakeholders, more effectively and in real time.

5. Hold Regular Online Meetings 

Apart from utilizing modern communication tools, you should hold online meetings with your team regularly. Not only does this allow you to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding business operations and projects, but it also allows you to connect with your employees in real time. Even if you communicate with them regularly through chat, seeing each other’s faces every now and then can help you maintain a good working relationship with your team.

There are a number of videoconferencing tools on the market today, but you should do your research to determine which one best suits your business. For example, you may want something with interactive features that will allow those present at meetings to give feedback or cues even while muted. And, of course, you would want software that’s secure and that doesn’t have bugs in its system.

6. Build A Strong Virtual Team Culture

As you may have done with your in-office employees, you could build a strong team culture for your virtual workers. For instance, you could set up employee recognition and reward programs. By acknowledging your employees and showing your appreciation for them, you could boost their morale and motivate them to keep up the good work.

There are several other ways you could reward your remote workers. You could come up with monetary incentives, for example. Or, if they live within your state or country, perhaps you could organize a trip for the team. This can serve as a reward for their work, and it can refresh them and allow them to unwind, thus helping to prevent burnout.

Recognizing your remote employees and awarding them with incentives could help motivate them, as it allows them to see that their work is valued. It also establishes a connection between you and them, and this mutual respect can help with collaboration and better management.

7. Consider Different Workers’ Time Zones

Having a virtual business environment means that you may be working with people from all over the world. Naturally, chances are high that you have employees working in different time zones.

For more effective management, you need to consider your workers’ time zones and try to accommodate them wherever possible. If you set up a team meeting, for example, you can’t expect employees to be able to attend if it’s set at midnight in their location. As much as possible, you should try to set it at a time that’s convenient for everyone.

The same could be said for deadlines. If you set a deadline for a project or task on a certain day, you should take into consideration that some of your employees may be in time zones one day ahead or behind your time zone. Always make sure to double-check with your employees and clarify details, especially for deadlines that don’t allow room for miscommunication.

8. Work With The Right Team

While remote work sounds good, it might not be the best choice for everyone. Oftentimes, it’s best suited for passionate and self-driven workers who know how to manage their time and tasks effectively. That being said, it would be a good idea to assess your employees well to see which ones are a better fit for a virtual business environment.

If you’re looking to hire new people, you would want the most qualified and passionate employees. In your assessment of candidates, look for people who would do well in remote work, as well as those who can quickly adapt to your company’s culture. This will make their transition to your company easier, and it can allow you to have an easier time managing them.

9. Utilize Project Management Software 

Sometimes managing remote projects isn’t quite as simple as it seems. This is especially true when you’ve got multiple projects to monitor. However, you can lighten your load by utilizing project management software. This will allow you to handle project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation with ease, and it ensures that projects are assigned to the right employees. It also allows you to monitor the progress of different tasks and projects.

As with most management software today, there are many options available on the market. Since this is an important tool, you will need to do your research and invest in one that suits your business needs.

10. Learn How To Delegate

Knowing how to delegate tasks is a crucial element in managing your remote workers. You need to be able to delegate work according to each worker’s ability, and you need to ensure that every member is aware of their duties and responsibilities. This allows you to build trust within your team and promote your employees’ accountability, which could make for better collaboration moving forward.

11.  Be Available 

Last but not least, you need to be available and accessible. Make sure all your remote workers know how to get in touch with you, and emphasize to them that your lines are always open. This is important, especially when they have questions that need to be answered, important feedback to give, or urgent concerns to solve.

For feedback and questions specifically, you could set a certain time, perhaps two or three hours in a day, where your remote employees can connect with you and raise concerns. Not only will this help promote workers’ engagement and satisfaction, but it will also enable you to manage them more effectively.

Takeaway 

Managing a business remotely is the way to go for most firms these days. It can be incredibly beneficial for both the employer and the employees. However, to maximize these benefits and to ensure increased efficiency and productivity, you may need to make adjustments to your management style and make certain considerations for your employees’ benefit. That being said, if you implement the tips discussed above, you can better manage your virtual business environment.