How to Manage a Remote Workforce

There are good and bad sides to working remotely and managing a remote workforce – which is part of why we appreciated a recent blog post from HelpScout.net. It’s a compendium of pieces focused on ways to make working with a remote team or even individual players more productive for everyone.

All told, HelpScout offers 24 different insights ranging from communications to productivity and even details about one of our favorite subjects, meetings.

Here are some of the points that resonated with our team:

Learn to write clearly. Anyone who’s part of a remote workforce is constantly working through written communication. Says HelpScout, “Clear writing conveys ideas and emotions properly, champions clarity, and acts as the glue to form bonds with your team.” Great advice for everyone, whether on site or off.

Find the best collaboration tools, including platforms for communication, task management and file sharing.

Ensure meetings have objectives. Tapping into the insight of entrepreneur and author Seth Godin, you get confirmation that just showing up isn’t enough – objectives, planning and goals are all part of what make meetings work. Particularly if you’re the remote employee sitting on the line.

HelpScout’s list offers 21 more suggestions – plus related links – and they’re all worth reading. We’re taking the advice to heart for our next work-from-home days.