Improving employee satisfaction in remote work environments is essential for maintaining morale and motivation. Since you are not all in a physical work environment together, it can feel isolating working from home. As a result, it can be challenging to maintain motivation to get the job done.
Managers can enhance employee satisfaction among remote teams by planning and delegating accordingly, avoiding micromanaging, hosting virtual team-building activities, and showing appreciation. These four top improvement methods will boost employee morale and motivation.
Plan Ahead and Delegate Accordingly
Planning work projects early on will enable employees to handle the workload easily without feeling rushed. Lay out two weeks’ worth of work projects (or more, depending on your typical workflows and project timelines) on a shared Google Calendar so everyone knows what is expected of them over this period. Delegate work based on what each team member is most proficient in completing each task for maximum productivity.
In 2020, a survey of 350 human resources leaders asked what actions they were taking to transition from a traditional workplace to a remote work environment at the height of the pandemic. Of them, 47% of the survey respondents stated that well-rounded and constant communication was crucial for this transition.
Communication had the highest recorded percentage out of the other actions. Other choices in the survey included:
- Employee engagement and productivity
- Providing technology
- Giving emotional and social support
- Reassuring employee well-being
- Encouraging a healthy work-life balance
It’s clear that communication is pertinent for a successful remote work experience. Verbal collaboration reinforces expectations across the team during daily work projects.
Avoid Micromanaging Employees
Industrial psychologists estimate that 70% of employees have felt micromanaged at some time in their careers. Micromanaging employees means over-supervising employees without giving them the space to complete tasks on their own.
While leaders and managers should check in with their employees to see how they are coming along with a project, they should not continuously supervise them. Micromanaging will cause employees to feel that their supervisor does not trust them and that they are not capable of completing a task on their own.
Host Virtual Team Building Activities
Being in a different physical space from your coworkers doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy an interactive and fun experience. There are many virtual team-building activities that your team can do.
Planning virtual team-building activities requires some preparation, but it’s easier than it may seem. Remember to send out a reminder email to everyone about the date and time, the video platform on which you’ll meet, and the supplies needed for the project.
Here are a couple of the best virtual team-building activities to consider for your remote team. Start by hosting one activity every few weeks to give your team something fun to anticipate.
Cook a Meal
Partner with a local professional chef to see if they can head a virtual activity to have everyone cook a delicious dinner. Try spaghetti and meatballs with salad, chicken fajitas, or something else you know your entire team loves to eat.
Make it a simple meal with a depth of flavor so they will not be on the virtual call for too long. Your team will love the tasty dinner and learn a few valuable team-building skills along the way.
Game Night
Choose a digital game to engage everyone while building up their team skills. Think of a virtual escape room activity or a trivia night based on a specific theme. You can start simply by doing a “Three Truths and a Lie” game to help employees get to know one another better.
Show Appreciation To Your Remote Team
Showing appreciation to your remote team can be done in multiple ways. Shout out to an employee you believe went above and beyond that week during a virtual team meeting. It will help them to feel like a real MVP. Heighten the deal by giving that MVP a $10 gift card to their choice of one of a few establishments.
Each quarter, consider sending care packages to your team members in the mail. Send a basket with extra office supplies during one quarter, or consider sending a fruit basket or a specialty food assortment such as sausages, cheese, and grapes.
Final Thoughts
Virtual team-building activities are fun and interactive, and they help everyone get to know one another and maintain camaraderie. Planning and delegating ahead of time are essential for a relaxed work environment.
Avoiding micromanagement will make employees feel more confident as they complete their daily workload. Showing appreciation to employees will make your employees feel valued. Utilizing these elements together can foster improved employee satisfaction among a remote team, improving their work-life balance and your team’s productivity.
