As the world around us continues to evolve, so do our workspaces. With the help of modern technology, we can work from wherever we are—whether we’re in the office, at our home, or on the road. We get to work at our own pace, on our own schedule. Those of us that are super productive, can even accomplish our own, personal to-do list while doing so.
As far as “new normals” go, it’s not half bad!
There are a lot of reasons remote work is positive for employees, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have unique challenges.
Without being in the same office space together and having a clear employee engagement strategy, some organizations find it difficult to keep remote employees engaged. This can result in reduced morale, low productivity, and a lack of collaboration.
But we don’t have to settle for that because there’s good news: it IS possible to keep your remote employees engaged!
We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite ways to engage remote employees to help you create a comfortable environment where your team can have fun at work—wherever they are!
There are many ways you can engage your remote employees. The following list is by no means comprehensive. With a little ingenuity, you can create a culture of high engagement that works for your business. Whether you’re looking for new ideas or are just getting started, here are some of the best ways to increase engagement for your remote employees:
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Focus on communication comfort zones
Effective communication is one of the most important factors when engaging team members who work from home. Research shows that teams who communicate effectively may increase their productivity by as much as 25%.
One great thing about modern technology is there is no end to the ways people can communicate. This means that, no matter how your employees prefer to communicate, you can reach them whichever way they like.
Apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, and a plethora of others can help you communicate with employees face-to-face. If they (or you) prefer text communication, you can use messaging platforms such as Slack and Teams.
The choice is yours. Every app/communication platform comes with pros and cons. It’s important to choose a platform that meets your needs and helps streamline your communication. Don’t forget -when implementing any new technology you should have a plan to upskill your current employees and integrate it into your onboarding process.
Recognize their mental health needs
Encourage teamwork
Recognize employee's accomplishments
When an employee helps your team reach a goal or milestone, it’s important to let them know they’re appreciated. While working remotely, it can become harder for them to feel seen. But you can still do it! It might be harder to have an office pizza party, but you’ve certainly got options. For instance, you can:
- Hold a virtual team meeting where you publicly thank the individual employee for their contributions
- Offer a bonus to employees who reach specific goals or milestones
- Dedicate a space on your company’s internal or public website/social media recognizing the employee’s work
- Create team meetings where your employees can recognize and thank each other
- Send your employees frequent messages thanking them and commending their work
Give your remote employees a voice
Whether they’re remote or in the office, your employees most likely have strong feelings about their work, the business, and the processes you use. Giving them a chance to voice their opinions and ideas can help them feel engaged and important to the team. They could have praise, grievances, or actionable ideas about how to increase productivity or improve workflow.
You might consider a recurring meeting—once a month or so—where your team can get together and voice their thoughts and concerns about the business. Some might feel uncomfortable speaking in front of the team about their ideas, so it’s helpful to highlight your openness to speak with them privately. Either way, it’s important to listen to what they say: ask questions, engage in conversation, and take action when necessary.
