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Managing remote teams can be difficult. However, in times like ours, managers and business owners must learn how to do that and do it effectively.
Even before the pandemic, remote work was becoming an increasingly popular choice for businesses and employees. That’s why there are so many tools available to help you manage your remote workers. For example, business intelligence tools can be especially helpful.
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In this article, we take a look at the best approaches to managing your remote teams, while also illustrating how business intelligence tools can make you a more effective manager.
Communications Are Key with Remote Teams
One of the most important things when it comes to managing remote teams is to make communications easier. This is simpler than it might seem at first.
For example, using software and tools like VoIP, you can keep in touch with your remote employees whenever you need to. VoIP systems can allow for video conferencing. This makes it easy to have regular meetings with all your employees, both those who are working remotely and those on site. This way, everyone can stay on the same page.
Employees can use their mobile devices as extensions, so coworkers can reach them whenever they need to. Best of all, they will be able to better work with customers. This is because customers will see your business number come up on caller ID even when employees are working from home.
Learn to Measure Performance Without Being Overbearing
You need to be able to measure employees’ performance whether or not they’re on a remote team. However, it’s important not to make employees feel they’re not doing enough when they’re already giving it their all. Often, remote workers end up overworking themselves because they feel the need to prove they are doing their job.
But tools like VoIP can make measuring your employees’ performance a lot easier and less intrusive for them. For example, it will be simple for you to know if employees are doing their job. This is because VoIP has analytics features that let you know how many calls an employee answered during a specific time period. You’ll also be able to know the duration of calls, the geographic location of calls, and how long a customer is on hold.
VoIP also offers you the ability to record calls. This feature is great for training purposes, as well as for making sure that employees are doing what they need to do. In short, with VoIP, you can easily monitor and measure the performance of your remote workers.
Make the Effort to Engage with Employees on Remote Teams
Employees on remote teams perform better when they feel like they are part of the organization. By regularly engaging with your remote employees, you ensure that they know they are part of your company. Using VoIP, you can do things like have video conferencing that includes you, your remote teams, and your onsite teams.
This helps everyone feel like they’re working on something together. What’s more, everyone understands what everyone else is working on and there is less duplication of effort.
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Use the Best Software You Can Afford
Every business has its own unique needs. This is why you need to find the specific software that works best for your business. To get the best results, you want the software that offers the features you most need. Additionally, it must also be up-to-date so that it works well with what consumers need today.
This is the main reason you need to install a reliable cloud-based VoIP software for your business phone system. A solution like this will allow employees to access the data they need no matter where they are working from. Additionally, it will ensure your data is protected at all times.
The truth is, there are new and better solutions out there that will help you manage your remote teams more effectively. You just need to find the best one for your individual business.
Don’t Forget to Reward Good Work
Even if your employees aren’t in the office, don’t neglect to reward their hard work for your organization. Employees need to feel appreciated, whether they work on site or as a member of a remote team.
Offer incentives, like gift cards or bonuses. Or reward employees with a day off work with pay.
Acknowledging and rewarding good work is the best way to ensure that employees will always work hard for your organization. This can be especially important for your remote workers, who often don’t get the feedback they need.
If employees feel appreciated, they know they are part of the success of the company and will work hard for you.
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Manage Your Remote Teams Effectively for Better Productivity
The remote workforce is becoming the popular choice for businesses. Remote workers offer a lot of benefits to the office. For example, they contribute to reduced costs, since they don’t require office space. Employers also get a wider selection of potential candidates to choose from, allowing them to get the perfect people for their companies.
Managing workers on remote teams can be difficult if you don’t have the proper tools or the right approach to managing. But thankfully, thanks to technology like VoIP, this can now be a lot easier task for employers.
