Motivating Remote Employees
As restrictions ease and staff are returning to offices, employees prefer a hybrid working model. Employees will expect to work part of the time in the office and the remainder at home. Employers that force employees to return to working in the office 5 days per week may find team members leave for a more flexible role. In fact some employers have decided to offer employees a full remote working experience.
Learning to motivate your remote employees is essential to the success of your business and to retaining your staff. Here are some tips:
The biggest factor involved in motivating remote employees is trust ! I had this conversation with a client that was hesitant to allow their employees to work from home due to a lack of trust. The staff felt this dis-trust and as a result they have experienced a high employee turnover.
Find out what motivates your employees – don’t make assumptions. What motivates one employee could be very different to another.
Have daily check-ins/stand-up meetings with your team – when I managed a remote team I started each day with a morning check-in. We discussed how they were feeling each day and the priorities for the day.
Support your staff with their challenges e.g. tech issues, juggling home schooling and working, distractions etc. If they can’t work from home then consider if they can work in an office.
Create opportunities for socialisation and connection e.g. virtual Friday drinks, virtual activities
Continue discussing your employees career goals and invest in their professional development. Employees are concerned about out of sight out of mind and that they will be forgotten about career advancement and professional development opportunities.
The key ingredient is communication including active listening and confirming your understanding. Too often we are listening to respond, not to understand. This is a time when listening is essential.
It is your role as a leader to lead your team regardless of their location. If you are looking to develop your leadership skills book a Free Discovery call to find out more about the leadership coaching and training we offer.