Bob Dylan was on to something when he said, “the times they are a changing”. Whether you’re discussing transportation, energy, or even employment, yesterday’s business models do not apply today. As a business owner, contractor, or employee, you’re likely aware that people work differently today than they did ten or even five years ago. Teams today are continuously geographically dispersed and if you want to ensure your firm hires the best and brightest individuals, managing remote employees with cloud software is an essential skill for a globalized firm.

Finding and recruiting the best talent to your firm means utilizing human resources that do not live in the same location and who are not willing to relocate. By utilizing a team made up of remote employees, you are able to tap into a much wider talent pool, increasing the chances that your firm is able to utilize the best and brightest in your field or industry. If you’re looking for rapid growth, hiring remote employees is an absolute essential. The problem, however, is how to manage employees in different time zones that aren’t in the same office as your “core team.”

Advice on Manage Remote Employees

Managerial advice comes freely, however, here’s a list of basics that will help you better manage remote employees.

Have Standardized Systems In Place

While business managed from an office has a little more leeway when trying to operate without strict systems in place, a remote office must have systems and processes in place in order to function. Because a remote team is often left to their own devices on how to get things done, you must develop standardized and well-documented systems in place for performing work so that all remote employees understand your company’s workflow.

Promote Camaraderie and Rapport

It’s harder to build report and bond a team together when everyone is geographically dispersed, but by utilizing video messaging and video conferencing, you can help promote camaraderie and rapport from the beginning.

Have Regular Meetings

Some entrepreneurs and business owners like to have meetings in the morning before the start of a typical workday and some prefer at the end of the workday. Whatever your style, pick specific times and dates where all remote employees are expected to be on the call to receive important updates. Having regular meetings can prevent email and messaging overload and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Have Common Work Hours

Having core or common work hours is a contested piece of advice but is a good way to ensure productivity. It’s perfectly fine to allow flexibility in work hours for remote workers, however, if you can develop a core time where everyone is available and actively respond to communications, you’ll be setting your remote team up for success and ultra-productivity.

Utilizing Cloud Based Software to Manage Remote Employees

If you’re going to effectively manage remote workers, you must have the right tools. Cloud-based tools offer your remote employees the ability to access files, information, tasks, deadlines, updates, and more. More specifically:

• Utilize chat rooms like Slack or Google Hangouts for instant messaging that allows all employees to communicate instantaneously.
• Use Skype, WhatsApp, or WeChat to have video conferencing to simulate face to face meetings.
• Share screens using TeamViewer, Join.me, or GoToMeeting in order to advance your visualizations between remote worker.
• Use a CRM tool that allows all files, customer information, and customer documents in one, easily accessible software platform.

Explore Cloud Practice Accounting

If your business is an Accounting Firm that hires remote staff and bookkeepers, Cloud Practice Accounting is the first CRM specifically designed to track client progress from lead to reoccurring, annual engagements across a cloud-based platform. Contact us today to find out if your accounting practice is a good fit for this revolutionary Software-as-a-Service specifically built for accounting firms.