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How to keep your team motivated working from home

• June 16, 2020

The modern workplace is rapidly changing and with current circumstances many workforces have crossed the first hurdle of moving their team online. However, this is simply the first step into creating an effective environment for remote employees. The next question to ask is: How do you motivate people who work from home?

Managing and motivating a remote workforce requires a proactive approach and it can be difficult to foster strong relationships and a positive culture at a distance.

Below are 4 tips to keep your team motivated, remotely:

1. Maintaining a clear communication channel

Ineffective communication is one of the main reasons why employees get frustrated with their work. Switching over to an online business communication platform (e.g. Slack, MS Teams, Zoom) is integral to keeping communication clear. Team members can directly communicate with each other for feedback and questions without having to go through multiple people and processes.

2. Recognise and reward good work

Positive reinforcement can be a great way to motivate your employees and keep them motivated to continue doing exceptional work. There are plenty of ways in which you can reward deserving employees. For instance, you could incentivise them with bonuses or raises after they consistently deliver outstanding work. Alternatively, platforms such as Perkbox can be useful to boost employee engagement and experience.

3. Offer opportunities for professional development

One of the best ways to motivate your team is by giving them the opportunity to learn and upskill – since they’re developing new skills, it enables them to attain professional and personal growth. This will also benefit your company since employees will have better skills to deliver exceptional work. 

4. Create a visual scoreboard

Even if your team regularly communicates and has a culture of accountability, they still need a way to capture shared goals. Creating a visual that represents progress can motivate employees with competitive streaks but can also be a performance indicator and highlight priorities for your team.

In short, motivating a remote workforce requires the same basic approach as a traditional office environment. However, the tools and strategies you use to do so will require an upgrade to keep up with the challenges of the remote workplace.

If The Graduate Project can help you in any way, whether you are a candidate or a client looking for advice on new ways of job searching, interviewing or hiring, please do give us a call on 0207 043 4629 or send in your CV to recruitment@thegraduateproject.co.uk. 

By Anirudh Nair