A 2017 Gallup poll showed that almost half (43%) of American employees work remotely at least some of the time. Remote work is popular with employees, but some managers remain skeptical. It's natural to worry about workers you can't see: Are they getting the job done and meeting deadlines? How do you know? Actually, it's easy. Hire people you trust and let them do their jobs.

The three most important aspects of managing remote employees are communication, documentation, and organization.

Connect Employees & Encourage Communication
Use an online communication platform that encourages human connection and collaboration. Remote workers still need to feel like they're part of a team, and a cloud-based communication tool like Slack gives employees a virtual water cooler and conference room. You can break the discussion into different "channels" to discuss particular tasks that need to be completed. Team members communicate through direct messages and channels organized around specific topics.

Seriously, I have no idea what people did before Slack. It's easy to learn and you can customize it to your individual team's needs. Many of our staff have only communicated with each other via Slack, but they interact as co-workers and friends. It's more than a communication platform; it's also a team-building tool.

Organize Documentation & Make It Accessible
Who's doing what, how, and when? Without the ability to easily communicate, document the workflow, and access work products, a remote team can't possibly be effective. A cloud-based paper trail keeps everyone in the loop and helps new team members quickly come up to speed.

For instance, suppose we hired a new developer, and all the previous communication was via email messages. Even if we forwarded dozens of emails to her to review, how could we be sure she had everything needed to get started? When group communication takes place in person or in private emails, it's not easily transmitted to a newcomer.

Choose a communication platform that keeps the discussion, files, and group knowledge in one place that's accessible to everyone.

Use a Project Management Platform to Organize Work Flow
Project management software keeps all remote team members in the loop. Asana, Trello, and Basecamp are some of the most popular options. All three have their strengths and weaknesses, but right now Basecamp offers the best visual overview of a project's status for me.

Project visibility reinforces the team aspect. Team members can see how the tasks build on each other to complete the project, so they feel responsible for their contribution.

The biggest hurdle to remote teams is the social aspect. Effective teams must communicate, share information, and understand the project's goals and timetables.

Honestly Assess Your Management Style
Jason Fried is an author, entrepreneur, and productivity expert. His book, Remote, will change your thinking about how things "have" to be done. He discusses the organizational disruption caused by the transition to remote teams. The change can be disconcerting for more traditional managers; however, Fried challenges managers to embrace the remote model and discusses the morale and productivity benefits.

Forget micromanagement: an effective remote manager gives employees the tools to get the job done and then gets out of their way.

Copley Broer is CEO of RadPad, a marketplace for renters and landlords to find apartments, sign leases, and pay rent, and LandlordStation, an online solutions provider for small and mid-sized landlords and property managers. A 15-year veteran of the commercial and multifamily real estate industries, he is a thought leader in the use of technology in real estate.