Top 3 Tips To Effectively Train And Integrate Remote Workers: Learning the right techniques

The gig economy is picking up steam, and more companies are adding remote team members to handle vital company functions like book-keeping, web and content development, administrative assistant duties and much more. Experienced HR professionals who’ve supervised onsite employees will find that the same management strategies apply when overseeing offsite employees, but the techniques often differ.
 
Distance can present an obstacle to good management practices unless you use effective tools and techniques to bridge the miles. It is possible to effectively train and integrate remote employees if you create a deliberate strategy to make them informed and motivated members of your team. Here are three tips that can help you develop a highly efficient, committed offsite workforce:

1. Use Technology to Replicate the In-person Training Experience: Onsite training typically involves reviewing processes step-by-step in person with employees and walking them through software operations while viewing the same screen. Trainers can replicate this experience with offsite employees using telepresence, screen-sharing and screen-recording technologies. Screen capture solutions can be particularly helpful, allowing corporate trainers to record a step-by-step process and show remote employees exactly how to complete a transaction, along with an audio narration that explains each component. This allows offsite team members to watch the process and listen to the steps so they can repeat the procedure on their own until they complete it successfully.

2. Have a Plan to Build Relationships and Create a Positive Company Culture: Even though you’re occupying the same space with onsite employees, developing relationships and building a culture that reflects your organization’s values takes time and planning. The same is true with your offsite team. Create a plan to communicate and reinforce core principles at every stage of the journey for remote employees, including hiring, training and routine meetings. Look at every communication with employees as an opportunity to emphasize your company’s vision and mission, and make sure employees understand and embrace their role in achieving it. And use social media platforms to build relationships with and between employees. A private room on social media where employees can share ideas and interact is a great way to help them feel connected and supported.

3. Take Advantage of Collaboration Software to Build Strong Project Teams: Thanks to collaboration software, remote employees can work together as a unified team — no matter where they’re located. You can hold meetings using telepresence tools, providing employees with the same level of face-time during a kickoff meeting as if they were all in the same room, and then use collaboration software to assign tasks and monitor progress at every stage of the project. It’s a good idea to review features and choose the collaboration platform that works best for your purposes, but in general, collaboration software will enable your remote team to access a common file repository, share screens, edit documents or images in real time and keep track of various versions of the same file.

Author Bio
Tricia Sciortino is COO of BELAY. She joined BELAY in November 2010 as a virtual assistant and the first employee of the company. She has a background in senior retail management, including experience overseeing a team of more than 150 employees and supporting senior leaders in the church construction industry.
Visit www.belaysolutions.com
Follow @triciasciortino