All signs point to the need for many companies to continue remote work in —at least for a while. Try these tips to keep your remote team engaged and productive:. Does your team have everything they need to work efficiently at home or other remote workstations? Consider both the office supplies and technical tools—internet, software and especially hardware—your team needs to get the work done.
Create a FAQ document to help your team navigate the applications you use to work remotely. This will give your team confidence and reduce the number of questions you field on these topics.
Plan out your troubleshooting processes in advance to minimize downtime for your team in case of technical difficulties. Nothing kills motivation faster than ongoing IT issues. Know who to call and what to do if the team experiences connectivity or application issues.
Ask questions—have a trivia challenge or a quick round robin at the beginning of the day to keep people motivated. Even when your team is remote, they still contribute and make progress. When goals are met, be sure to reward them with praise or even little perks like extra time off. Send GrubHub or DoorDash vouchers electronically and have everyone order and eat together while you discuss how remote work is going.
While many people value the flexibility of working at home, it can also be isolating for some, so be sure to keep the unique needs of each team member in mind.
