Online offices: Tips for managing a remote workforce

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Managing a remote workforce can be challenging, especially if you have grown used to working alongside your team in a traditional work environment until now.

When you are not in the same physical location as your team, even the most basic business tasks can suddenly seem much more complex.

As a manager, you need to adopt a management approach that will help you to manage your team effectively so you continue to meet your goals as you move to a remote setup.

To ensure that you and your employees can work efficiently and maintain productivity, you need to put the right systems in place.

Nowadays, there is a range of business tools and services that can help you to manage just about every aspect of your operations with ease.

With the right systems in place and the help of professionally managed IT services in Melbourne, you can ensure that your business is set up for success from the outset.

Let's take a look at some useful tips to help you manage your remote workforce with ease.

Communication is key to managing any team effectively, and managing a remote team is no different.

There are countless communication apps and platforms that you can use to stay in touch with your team and keep up-to-date on projects.

Be sure to check out all of the options available and choose a solution that will best meet the needs of your business.

When you're managing a remote team, you need to ensure that you set clear expectations from the outset.

When your staff knows what is expected of them, you can be sure that they will deliver what is required.

Expectations can be defined for work submission standards, deadlines, progress reports, time to reply to internal messages and other important aspects of your workflow.

Just because your team is not working alongside each other in the same physical space doesn't mean they cannot collaborate on projects.

A range of cloud-based project management software solutions make sharing files and working on projects as a team easier than ever.

Install a system that will fit seamlessly with your workflow and encourage your staff to work together on projects just as they would have had in the physical office environment.

If you want to maintain morale and keep your team united and motivated, you need to create cohesion and a sense of belonging in your remote workers.

One of the best ways to achieve this is to celebrate your team's achievements. Whether your team reaches a milestone ahead of time, secures a new client, or a particular member of staff goes above and beyond, be sure to acknowledge the achievement publicly and give them the virtual pat on the back they deserve.

One of the biggest challenges for managers transitioning to a remote setup is letting go of the reigns and learning to trust your team.

When your staff is working from home, you can't be there to look over their shoulder and check that they are on task.

Micro-managing your remote team and checking in on their every move will interrupt your employee's productivity and ultimately lead to frustration amongst your staff.

Trust your staff to do their work and avoid micromanaging your remote team to maintain productivity and to improve staff morale.

As every business and manager is different, it's important that you find a management style that meets the needs of your business, suits your personality and helps you to get the very most out of your team.

With the right approach to managing your remote team, you can ensure that your business continues to thrive, regardless of where your staff is located.