The number of remote workers has increased by 44 percent in the last five years. As a result of these changes, the layout of how offices work has shifted. Remote workers serve as a catalyst even if you aren’t running a fully remote team.
So, the question is, how do you manage remote workers? There is no single answer. You’ll meet many types of remote workers, and you need to change your strategy with each.
One of the leading problems remote workers face is separating their work life from their personal life. Surveys show 22% of remote workers have trouble unplugging after work.
‘The Scheduler’ deals with the struggles of working from home by planning out every hour of their day. As a result, they are great at meeting deadlines and deliver a high quality of work. But, cannot deal with tasks assigned at the last minute. To best way to manage this type of worker, assign projects well in advance.
‘The extrovert’ depends on other people to keep them motivated. Often this is the person who sends pictures and funny memes in the group chat. They work well in team settings, mediate conflicts, and ease communication between your remote staff. You can also count on them to break the ice in online meetings.
These types do not naturally take to remote working. 19% of remote workers report loneliness as their biggest struggle. You will need to check in with ‘the extrovert’ from time to time.
The solo act is a natural at working from home. Statistically, 77% of remote employees claim their productivity increases when working from home. The solo act works well independently. They require little oversight and can deliver quality work with short deadlines.
However, this type of remote worker is the worst at taking criticism. To better manage them, compliment their good work, so they don’t take offense to your feedback.
The addition of remote workers to the market has changed how offices work. A huge part of this is the freedom it provides, from schedules, time constraints, and geographical restrictions. Remote working has also driven up the number of freelancers.
‘The Freelancer’ is a highly qualified part-time worker. So, you get the benefit of their expertise for a lower price. However, they have other clients. With this type of worker, you risk becoming a low priority client. So, check in regularly and discuss progress.
If you think remote working is a big deal now just wait a few years. Research shows that 42% of employees plan to transition into remote working within five years. Which brings us to the final type of worker, ‘The Newbie.’
This worker has recently transitioned into working from home. Although they may have a lot to offer your team, they will require support and supervision. ‘The Newbie’ will require a lot more effort on your part than other types of remote employees.
When you’re hiring remote staff, you need to identify which type they fall into to manage your remote team successfully.