Hiring a team remotely is challenging but making sure that your employees continue being productive, efficient and of course satisfied is even more complex. As we have witnessed, multiple changes in the economy combined with Covid-19 increased the remote work significantly. Many companies have shut down the offices completely, while others created a certain balance between office hours and “work from home”. However, this transformation required adjustment to the new world of employment and management style adjustment.
For Pillar, remote employment has been a common practice from the day it was founded. Our developers are based in Ukraine and provide services to companies worldwide. Here we wish to share with you the best practices for managing and retaining remote employees- this will guarantee their engagement!
Don’t lose contact
The importance of streamline communication
If you don’t create methodologies of keeping in touch with your employees on a daily basis, it might lead you to lose track. Being in constant communication is important not only for tracking activity and performance but also to motivate your team and provide them a sense of belonging.
Use Technology
Establishing effectiveness through technology and systems
Communication with your team and creating a culture of transparency and accountability must be done in an effective way. Currently, there are multiple tools in order to help you meet your team online, track their productivity and collaborate as a team. If you choose the suitable technology, your way to success will be shorter and much easier.
Be a team!
Creating a sense of belonging for employees
Being a team without meeting face to face is possible. Different companies establish a sense of belonging for employees by arranging events offering them various activities and providing them tools to grow as individuals within the organization. If you choose to outsource your development team, make sure you invest in those aspects.
Offer career and personal development
Helping people grow is a key to your growth
Remember that your team abroad has ambitions and dreams. They have joined your company because they believe in you and think that your company can reward their skills and offer them growth. Make sure you are attentive to their needs because you will get more out of them.
Make sure to be present
Being there for your employees even if you are far
Being present means understanding the other side. It is important for any employer to establish an open-door policy. It might not be the easiest task while you are miles away but with the help of a local partner, you can even have onsite HR that will provide you with better insights and make sure you respond rapidly.
Provide benefits
The difference between benefit and beneficial collaboration
Benefits will help you be on top of the competition. Providing benefits can be also financially wise as they can be expensive but most important, they will provide extra reasons for your employees to stay and invest in their work.
Create Clarity for your employees
Make sure you have standards and policies
Every employee wants to know where he is heading. Once you are employing someone in another country, typically the trust level is not high at the very beginning. One of the tools to create trust and strong relationships is by providing accurate information regarding expectations, processes, and prospects for career development, eg. “If you exceed the targets in 1 year, you will be eligible to become a team leader”.
