3 Tips for Training Leaders to Manage Remote Workers Effectively

Working remotely is becoming the ‘new normal’

It is also normal for leadership to happen virtually for most companies.

Whether an onsite manager works with remote employees or the leaders work remotely themselves, leading people you don’t see face to face every day requires a slightly different skill set and it is quite a challenging one.

Communication is even more important as you work through time zones and everyone communicates from behind their screens.

Hence, companies should train leaders to manage remote workers effectively to the success of any remote work program.

In general, a remote leader’s focus needs to be managed based on results and processes rather than a video call, which is so often relied upon in traditional office settings.

Let’s not waste time, here are the 3 tips for training leaders to manage remote workers effectively.

1.Proactive Communications

Proactive communication practices among teams and colleagues are among the most useful areas of remote leadership training.

Proactive communication which means taking the initiative to reach out when an idea, problem, or obstacle occurs, rather than waiting to be questioned or waiting for the next meeting.

Besides, it will also help to create a more clear, responsive management process, build trust, and avoid overlooked issues.

Though it is significantly more challenging for a remote leader to manage a team compared with a leader who is managing a team in person, leaders should put extra effort by holding regular and individual meetings specifically to address questions and help solve problems.

2.Translate Company Culture

Another challenge is training leaders need to create a culture that fosters true leadership in a remote team. To be frank, it is hard enough to do when you’re in the same office, and it gets harder the more remote the team becomes.

Training leaders can reach out to employees regularly to engage in casual conversations – like lunch conversations that might happen in the physical office.

3.Manage Expectations

As a training leader, you can help your team figure out what they should do, and create realistic expectations for their work.

Besides, you have to set yourself and your team up for success by clearly stating both the tasks and the reasons behind them, and help your team understand exactly how you will measure success.

And that includes defining the scope, deadlines, and deliverables for each task or project your team is working on.