5 Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Virtual Employees

The more the distance the more the communication

Virtual employees work far away from your presence. This means communication needs to be increased compared to workplace employees. As the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind” which means; that which is not seen cannot be focused on or can be easily forgotten. Even daily morning greetings such as hello should be enough to strengthen communication. Also, ask about on-goings and non-related work stuff to keep everything interesting. The further the virtual employee is, the more necessary the communication.

Organize regular meetings and integrate your virtual employees

Nowadays everything is easier with technology. Virtual employees can be included in the meeting through e-conferencing. It is always a good idea to invest in high-quality appliances like speakers, speakerphones, and pc cameras. This will enable every member to clearly hear, be heard, and be seen by everyone in the conference room. The platforms that could be used for video conferencing are skype, google hangouts, and more which are available online. They're easy to install, to use, and leave no room for reasons anyone misses the meeting regardless of where they are.

Hold team-meetup events regularly

Having co-workers meet and get to know each other at the workplace creates a strong bond between them which always help in cooperation during work, in turn, yields better results. However, the absence of virtual employees at the workplace hinders this crucial process, and therefore holding off-work meetups will cover for it as all the workers, even the virtual employees will be there and people will get to know more about their colleagues which will make them workers but also friends. By doing so, you can expect more from your employees as individuals and as a cooperating team.

Clarify your expectations for your virtual employees.

Their absence makes it almost impossible to adhere to the rules and regulations set in the office. They work in casual conditions all the time; that can be at home, at a coffee shop, or even in the evening when no one is at work in the office, and therefore becomes hard to sync. Putting forward your expectations clearly to them clarifies all the possible misunderstandings—for example, delivering daily reports, covering some specific amount of work in a specified amount of time, working during working hours, and always being available when needed. This also tells them what is expected from them.

Appreciate their work and admire their success

When your employees do fruitful things for your company—including the virtual employees—try to recognize and reward them anyhow you can. If inviting them to the office is not possible, send them small gifts to show appreciation. This can be a simple thank you note, a gift card, or any other equivalent commodity. This always shows how much you value their work and how important it is for the company. Keeping everyone motivated and mentally healthy is always good for the company.