Why Having an “Open Door” Policy with Your Remote Employees Is Critical

How to Build an Awesome Remote Team You Can Trust

When you don’t see your coworkers every day, it can be challenging to build the trust necessary to operate as a high-performing team. So, how can you get around the challenges of not working in the same office space?

Here are Jules Joyce’s top five pieces of advice on how you can build an effective remote team. 

1. ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION

First and foremost, Jules assures that you can build solid relationships with employees you don’t spend time with by simply letting them know that you offer open communication. Jules calls this approach an “open door” policy. She encourages all remote managers to give their teams the opportunity to approach them through various communication channels.

“Let them know that it’s not troublesome or a hassle for them to reach out to you,” says Jules, who has witnessed employees struggle because they didn’t want to “bother” her.

Jules explains that if you provide the expectation that you’re available to support them, employees are more likely to feel comfortable reaching out, asking questions, and – ultimately – avoiding mistakes.

2. SET REGULAR MEETINGS

Jules and her employees have several different meeting rhythms that have helped her team find success. She recommends meeting as a team – via telephone or video conference – daily for short catch-ups, and weekly for longer discussions. Most importantly, though, Jules suggests that having weekly one-on-one catch-ups with each member of your team is “critical” to an individual’s success in their role.

In addition to meeting on a regular basis via telephone, Jules also recommends trying to get together with your remote employees in person at least once a quarter to help build team camaraderie.

3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF “THE CLOUD”

When it comes to resources that can help people manage their remote teams, Jules recommends, “Anything collaborative, anything in ‘the cloud.’”

More specifically, Jules suggests Smartsheet, a live tool similar to Google Docs that multiple people can edit and access from anywhere – unlike a remote server. She says that her team uses Smartsheet to track tasks and projects. 

For quick questions and communications, Jules recommends instant messaging on a platform that employees can access with just the internet, such as Slack, rather than a company-based chat service.

4. WATCH FOR PARTICIPATION

If an employee stops hitting targets and begins to withdraw, Jules says this could be a sign that it’s not working out with that individual.

Jules says that, for her, it’s all about participation. If an employee has stopped reaching out to you, or you feel you have to pull information from them, this could be a red flag that that person is no longer engaged in their role.

That said, Jules recommends not getting too hung up if an employee doesn’t respond to you right away through instant message or email. People will have their own work rhythms, and you don’t necessarily want them to drop everything they’re doing mid-task just to answer your question.

Jules suggests that if it’s really important, and you need to get a hold of your team member, pick up the phone and call them.

5. TRUST YOURSELF & YOUR TEAM

“Don’t focus too much on the fact that you’re not there,” says Jules. Let your team do what you hired them to do. An employee may not always do something the way you would have, but letting go of little things like that is part of developing a strong team, suggests Jules. Trust yourself, your team, and the fact that you hired a great group of people.

Get Started Building a More Successful Remote Team

Want more ideas on how you can successfully manage remote employees? Download your free copy of “10 Ideas to Bring Remote Employees Together” for access to:

• Free ideas for bringing remote employees together
• Best practices for how to treat remote employees to boost their engagement
• Recommendations for team building activities and training programs that are designed for remote employees

DOWNLOAD THE 10 IDEAS TO BRING REMOTE EMPLOYEES TOGETHER GUIDE

Don’t forget, you can also tune into Jules’ interview above, or download the episode by subscribing to our podcast, Outback Talks: The Employee Engagement Podcast, on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.