How to keep remote workers engaged in their tasks

This post came out from The Straits Times (1 September 2015)
Title - Working remotely but productively

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Use technology to build trust
2. Give every team member a professional workspace
3. Keep strict work processes and targets
4. Have some team spirit
5. Organise one-on-one meetings

On Use technology to build trust

• Remote workers must make sure their line manager and other team members trust in and understand what they are doing. Checking in with them via different platforms such as e-mail, instant messaging and calls can mean a lot to your co-workers. Try keeping a group chat window or webcam stream open all day if possible It helps the team to work the way they would if team members were working side by side - asking questions or opening ideas up to the floor. 
• Alternatively, an automated micro-reporting system allows everyone to share small progress updates - when one person finishes a task, the group gets an alert. This keeps everyone in the loop, and allows team members to benchmark their own productivity against that of their peers.

On Give every team member a professional workspace

• Everyone needs a quiet and calm workspace, which is not always possible at home. Having a workplace that is free from the many distractions at home will boost productivity for remote workers. As long as you recognise where you work best in and have a reasonably conductive environment to operate from, working remotely should not be a problem for you.

On Keep strict work processes and targets

• To stop people from feeling and becoming isolated when they are working remotely, strict operational processes are vital. Things like signoff procedures, quality control checkpoints and daily targets should always be kept sharply in focus. 
• Consider drawing up new job contracts to help people understand that key processes must be adhered to in everything they do. Making sure that Key Productivity Indicators (KPIs) are met daily or weekly will ensure that nobody slacks off in the team while working remotely.

On Have some team spirit

• Once or twice a month, get your whole team together for a face-to-face meeting. It could be a company "away" day, or a strategic planning session.
• Be creative and find the meeting place most convenient for the whole team, instead of forcing everyone to fly to a head office which could be headquartered somewhere else in the world. The key point is this: your remote team should never be strangers

On Organise one-on-one meetings

• Most management teams are worried about how remote workers spend their time. Because management teams find it difficult to quantify and qualify how some workers spend their time, they find it difficult to provide a solution to their observations.
• To get around this, arrange frequent one-on-one meetings with line managers and your direct reports to review productivity, report on successes, get feedback and define your next set of goals. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big