How to Motivate Your Employees While Working Remotely

Remote work is the new status quo, with nearly half of all business professionals working from home offices or off-premise locations. Now with everyone accustomed to remote work, how do you keep employees motivated?

We asked this question to a number of business leaders who know the art and science of managing people – these were their responses.

Clear Goals

Ever since the remote shift, goals and objectives have been a bit fuzzy. It may be time to talk about a real, concrete game plan with your staff and set a course in a certain direction.  

“Give your employees clear objectives and reiterate them often so that they don’t lose sight of their goals,” said Jeff Brown, President of Big Fig Mattress. “Some remote workers find themselves unsure about their roles, and this can lead to miscommunication or mishaps.”

There’s no downside to clarifying goals, especially with everyone working remotely.

More Meetings

What is the best format for communicating with staff these days? We suggest setting up recurring meetings that everyone can prepare for and participate in a meaningful way.

“Setting a weekly or monthly meeting with your entire company is a great idea to bring people onto the same page,” said Jordan Smyth, Founder and CEO of Gleamin. “It helps to have some transparency and see where everyone is at on their projects.”

Not everybody needs to talk or pitch in during these meetings. However, “same time, same place” helps a lot for everyone involved.

Discuss Priorities

Even the most independent thinkers and top producers on your team need a bit of direction. Get in touch with them to talk shop, see what they’re thinking, and just open the floor for discussion.

“Providing team members with solid company goals and kindly encouraging them to complete prioritized job responsibilities on time in order to stay on task will result in more efficient work processes and improved productivity,” said Maegan Griffin, Founder, CEO and Nurse Practitioner at Skin Pharm.  

You might be surprised to hear what some employees have to say – prepare yourself for feedback!

Simplify the Process

Remote work might be second nature to younger millennials and team members raised on the internet, but that’s not the case for all staff members.

Be inclusive and help everyone on your team make the shift.

“Telecommuting, one of many forms of work-life flexibility, should no longer be viewed as a nice-to-have, optional perk mostly used by working moms,” said Cali Williams Yost, CEO and Founder of Flex+Strategy. “These common stereotypes don’t match reality – allowing employees to work remotely is a core business strategy today.”

The sooner we transition everyone to the remote work environment, the faster we can get back on track to productivity and profits.

Check In with Everyone

How often do you connect with individuals on your team and see how they’re doing? Daily check-ins aren’t necessary but try to touch base every week or so for good measure.

“Motivation can be fleeting, so make a habit of doing frequent meetings and check-ins with specific employees,” said Bing Howenstein, Founder of All33. “This goes a long way for people working from home and in need of a boost.”

Not every meeting needs to be groundbreaking or invigorating – consistency matters most.

Offer Support

Is there someone on your team stressed out with everything going on in the world? Maybe they are uncertain about the future or just need some reassurance. Step up and be there for them, or at least make the offer.

“Talk to your employees the way you would talk to yourself or a friend you want to support in their goals,” said Joshua Tatum, Co-Founder of Canvas Cultures. “Be positive and helpful, but also push them to achieve more each day.”

You don’t need to moonlight as a therapist for your staff. Just be available and ready to listen.

Show Respect

You’ve got to give respect to get respect – that’s just the economics of respect. Apply these principles to management and help employees be proud of their accomplishments.

“Employees need to feel happy in order for productivity to thrive,” said Shana Hall, Creative Director at Aurelle. “Showing your team members how much you appreciate, respect, and value them is vital to maintaining an engaging environment and improving productivity.” 

Everyone wants to be recognized at the end of the day – put in the effort to see massive ROI.

Stay Relaxed

Work doesn’t need to be stressful for things to get done well and on time. In fact, the most effective employees are the ones who can relax and enjoy work, and set it aside when all is said and done.

“Make sure you have a stress-free zone, at work (yes, even your home office),” said Author and Speaker Dr. Tasha Holland – Kornegay. “Look for a break room. No need for a fancy setting. All you need is some soft lighting and something comfortable to sit on. Put together a nice relaxing playlist and listen to it.”

Discuss work habits and schedules with employees to see what works best for them, then talk about ways to achieve that balance.

Incentive Structure

Times are tough for many companies, but sometimes, it takes a little extra cash or leverage to get the best performance from certain members of your team.

“Give your employees the right incentives, and they’ll respond with their best work,” said Peter Horvath, CEO of High Times. “Whether that’s money, autonomy, perks, time off, whatever – these are motivators that work, so use them.”

We’re only human after all – be honest with employees and ask what they want moving forward.

Compassion is Key

Setting goals and holding meetings is great, but are you speaking with coworkers and team members in a real, human way? A compassionate approach never fails.

“We’re all navigating the remote work thing together, so be patient and show some extra compassion to your employees,” said Anthony Puopolo, CMO of REX MD. “Your staff is the engine moving everything forward, so don’t take them for granted.”

Now that employees have a bit more leverage in job markets, it’s time to make them a top priority.

Talk About It

Managers and supervisors have the reputation of being closed-off and hard to reach, but in the world of remote work, it’s time to rethink these roles and be more transparent.

“Talk openly about remote work, your routines, your tips and tricks – be a human about it,” said Darren Litt, Co-Founder of Marketer Hire. “Nobody has the perfect answer for productivity, motivation, or work-life balance, so make it a team effort.”

Having a real conversation with a trusted coworker can be very helpful when the pressure is on.

Employee Appreciation

When was the last time you sent an email that celebrated employees’ efforts or gave a shout-out to someone who went above and beyond? These small gestures count for so much.

“Providing clear direction to clarify expectations, offering goals that are achievable, and praising employees for a job well done are all instrumental in delivering satisfaction and improving productivity,” said Jeff Henretig, President of Apothecanna.  

Be authentic and specific with your praise, because employees will respond in turn with great work.

Rethink Culture

Nobody really knows what company culture means, but we all know when it’s simply not working as it should. If there are problems, waste no time in addressing them.

“If your employees need motivation working from home, it might be a symptom of your company lacking culture or a clear mission,” said Aidan Cole, Co-Founder and CMO of Hide. “The best companies don’t have a motivation problem, because they are aiming to change the world.”

It’s tough to fix issues related to culture, but self-reflection is a worthwhile practice regardless of the outcome.

Make it Real

If your company is minimizing overhead and making money in the remote work age, why not send employees some goodies to show appreciation?

“Send a gift basket, a sandwich, some beers – anything, really,” said Carrie Derocher, CMO of TextSanity. “Employees still need a pat on the back every once in a while, so show them you care.”

What could be better than receiving a random basket of joy in the mail? That’s bound to leave a positive impact, so try it out.

Break Time

Nobody can keep the pedal to the metal all day long, especially when sitting at a desk, locked into a computer. Breaks are necessary to combat burnout and maintain sanity.

“Encouraging your employees to take regular breaks will ensure that the time spent at their desk is more productive,” said Patrick Crane, CEO of Love Sew.

The perfect break lasts a few minutes every hour or so – find your flow and maximize your time.

Casual Atmosphere

By this point, everyone is longing for the in-person dynamics of a real office, even with all its annoyances. Do your best to recreate an actual office environment via digital means, and promote real interactions between people.

“Create space and opportunities for small talk and random interactions between employees throughout the day,” said Eric Wu, Co-Founder and COO of Gainful. “Remind everyone that it’s okay to be relaxed and enjoy work without stressing or being stuffy.”

The remote work revolution is only just beginning, so don’t expect things to go back to the way they once were 100%. Use these tips to motivate remote workers and keep a strong culture intact within your organization, because that will be key in years to come. 

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