As you look to grow your business, you may decide it’s time to bring others on board. When you hire employees there are several questions you need to consider.
First, do you have office space to handle your staff?
Second, will you have a dress code?
Third, what will their hours be?
When you decide to hire virtual employees none of these concerns apply to you. Your virtual employees work from their own location. They can dress as they like because no one sees them. Their hours depend on the time frame you set out for your projects.
Here are five areas you need to manage when it comes to your virtual employees.
1. Hire the right virtual employees.
As for managing these virtual employees, it’s a must that you hire the right people. Your employees need to be able to communicate with you effectively.
What do you need to consider when hiring? No doubt your virtual employees are going to be handling various aspects of your business. Some of these areas might be “sensitive.” In other words, you don’t want your employees sharing information on your business or its strategies. Other qualities you want to have in an employee—virtual or otherwise—are honesty, reliability, a great work ethic, productive, and can work independently.
2. Get to know them.
Hold weekly meetings to make sure everyone is on the same page. If necessary, hold these one-on-one meetings more frequently. Using video conference calling really helps to build a business rapport and makes it easier to get to know them even better.
These meetings should have a specific agenda. Ask if there are any specific questions or concerns that they need answered. Ask them what they feel their strong points are. Utilize those points wisely.
3. Build a team.
Your employees need to feel like they are part of a team. This means including them in all aspects of meeting planning as if they were right in front of you. Once again, this is where teleconferencing and web-enabled tools will help you bring all your employees together.
4. Communication.
Communication comes in various forms. I mentioned video, but you should also use newsletters, emails, discussion boards, and more.
5. Set realistic goals for your virtual employees.
Have check-in times to monitor their progress. Set deadlines for projects, and perhaps, give incentives for getting their portion of the job completed earlier than expected. It’s important to recognize and reward your virtual employees for a job well done.
Managing your virtual employees can be challenging, but if you follow the above steps and those you decide to implement, you will be able to grow a thriving business.
Toni Nelson
Using a step by step approach, Toni Nelson has been helping entrepreneurs and service-based businesses plan, brand, and promote so they can boost profitability and productivity. As the author of Sexy, Savvy and Successful, she knows how to help clients plan their strategies for success. As an award-winning photographer and videographer, Toni is in the perfect position to help clients with the branding process. As a business success coach, Toni's second book, The Secret Equation To Attracting More Clients, is all about promoting businesses. As the founder of the Entrepreneur Hub Club, Toni encourages women to invest in themselves by gaining or sharpening their business skills. As an award winning videographer and photographer, Toni has had weddings published in such places as DIY Bride and Kiss My Tulle. In 2014, Toni was a winner in the Start Up Nation Top 100 Home Based Business ranking in the top 10 for most innovative.
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