The covid-19 pandemic has compelled several companies to mull over remote working or hybridworking systems as their permanent option. But with great decisions comes great challenges.While remote working is considered a desirable option, it comes with scores of obstacles.

Due to flexible timing, freedom, better health, and a comfortable environment, remote workers are likely to be happier and more productive. But managing a remote workforce might not be a child’s play for most leaders and managers. There is no denying that remote workers need more than just the basic tools and resources to work. To keep up the morale of remote employees, leaders need to recognize and adopt means to keep them engaged and happy.

Technology to Keep Teams Connected

In the remote working bubble, the most hard-hit ones are the new hires. When a new hire joins an organization, there are oodles of uncertainty standing in their way. A new environment, new work culture, people, and responsibilities consume them wholly. Added to their woes, new employees who never met their team leaders or colleagues in person tend to feel aloof and cold.

However, proper communication is an effective means to keep remote employees engaged and connected. Leaders should take advantage of the available tools and apps to keep track of their team- streamline work, regular face-to-face meetings and conferences, conduct interactive workshops/seminars, or host fun and engaging sessions. Such initiatives can help remote workers to feel connected with the other members of the team.

Fostering with Proper Communication and Engagement

When employees are well-engaged, they tend to feel a sense of belonging and value the company they work for. This induces them to perceive the company’s goals and visions and adopt them to yield productive outcomes.

Consequently, for businesses, it is imperative to chart out well-planned employee engagement programs and tools to make remote working easy and effective. To trace performance, managers should keenly observe the morale of their team members.

Easing the Hiring Process with Elongated Collaboration

The pandemic has forced businesses to change the course of their hiring process. The conversations and discussions that used to happen in person have shifted to phone or video conferencing. This gives new hires a series of overwhelming uncertainty about their new workplace and being a part of a team that they never met. For most individuals, things can get daunting with no physical interaction and a lack of proper exchange of information.

While virtual hiring has become the future of most businesses now, it is imperative to conduct extended meetings and training sessions to help the new hires understand their work and the company efficiently. Such firm approaches will help new hires feel comfortable at work and make them productive contributors to the company.

Appreciating Employees’ Contribution with Rewards and Benefits

Recognition allows employees to build a sense of security and motivates them to work. When employees are appreciated, they view how their company values their efforts and contribution. This motivates them and boosts their morale.

Leaders and managers should adopt indispensable ways to notice and distinguish potential efforts and reward them with bonuses and benefits. Recognition in the form of written comments, emails, etc., from their leaders or even co-workers helps employees to feel valued, appreciated, and important.

A seamless way to Engage Employees

Remotely distributed teams need to stay well-connected, communicated, and motivated to ensure a smooth flow of information. The distress, apprehension, and uncertainty engulfing remote employees should be wiped out with a proper engagement plan that makes teams feel connected.

Hermis’ employee engagement app for Zoom makes virtual onboarding and team collaboration easy. The app stresses building engagement and connections among the work buddies. This Zoom-based application, with its immersive team-building activities, will not just optimize team efficiency but also help tackle the remote-working challenges faced by management.

It also allows managers or leaders to create a structured calendar with separate links for training sessions, one-on-one meetings, an all-team presentation, as well as engaging in fun activities like virtual happy hour or a quiz session.

Besides, creating fun and engaging sessions through activities like trivia, scavenger hunts, or even escape rooms will help employees to invigorate from their exhaustion and motivate them to work productively.

‍

‍