Six Mistakes to Avoid When Training Remote Workers
Many companies today are considering hiring remote workers. They are excited about the benefits that it can provide their company, such as reduced costs for operating an office. It also allows them to select from a wide talent pool. Other companies like to offer even their local workers the ability to work from home.
While there are certainly many benefits with remote workers, there are also some potential issues if you are not properly training them. Below, you will find six of the biggest mistakes that you will want to avoid if you are going to be hiring and training remote workers.
Not Providing Adequate Assessments
Even before you hire someone – whether they are a remote worker or in-house – you should make sure they are the right fit for the job. This means that you will want to give them a proper assessment. This will include not only an interview by phone or online but also some type of assessment test. This helps to ensure that they will be able to actually handle the job that you are hiring them to do.
In addition to having assessments in the beginning, it is a good idea to provide assessments during the training, and on an ongoing basis. This simply helps to let you know that they understand the training and that they have the capability to handle the job. If you don’t provide these assessments, it could mean that the worker does not truly understand the job they are assigned. Naturally, this will lead to problems.
Not Providing Proper Training
Improper or rushed training can also be a huge problem. While you should certainly provide the worker with an employee handbook, you can’t simply assume that they have the training needed to work for your company. You will need to provide them with proper training that will ensure they know everything necessary to complete their job. You will also want to make sure that they understand the material and that it makes sense to them.
When creating training courses, you will want them to mirror the in-house training that you do as much as possible. While it will not be the same as having an instructor standing over their shoulders, the training materials should provide them with the guidance and the answers they need.
Not Providing Communication Avenues
Of course, you will also need to make sure that you are providing the employee with ways that they can contact people at your company. This is true whether they have questions about the training they are going through or if they have questions later about other aspects of the job. It should be just as easy for them to get into contact and to get an answer as it is for those who are working at the office with you. Having several avenues of communication, including phone and email, is essential. You might also want to consider an online workspace where people can communicate, such as Slack. Being able to communicate with managers and other workers will also help the remote workers feel like they are truly part of the team.
Not Keeping Them in the Loop
When you don’t see the workers every day, there is the chance that you might forget about them when it comes to certain things happening within the company. Whether it is a change in management or a change in procedures, it is essential that you remember to let the remote workers know right away. This is especially true when it comes to changes in the way that they will be doing their job. It will often mean new training. If they don’t get the training, they will not be able to apply it to their job.
Not Checking in… or Checking in Too Much
When you have remote workers going through training, and even those who have completed their training, you will want to check in when them occasionally, even if there aren’t major changes. You simply want to check in from time to time to make sure that everything is going well and that they do not have any questions or concerns. This helps to ensure better communication between these workers and the company.
However, just like with employees in-house, there is the danger of overstepping and checking in too much. No one likes to feel as though they are being micromanaged, and it could cause some employees to simply quit if they feel they are constantly being watched. As long as the employees are doing their job well, it tends to be a good idea to let them be most of the time.
Not Creating a Schedule for Training and for Work
While it’s true that those who are working remotely tend to be highly motivated and very productive, it does not mean that they shouldn’t have some type of schedule. When it comes to the work they are doing and the training they are going through, you should make it a point to provide them with a schedule.
Having a schedule will help to provide them with more structure, which can make getting their work done easier. Without guidance, you will find that you aren’t getting the work done that you need. It’s not the fault of the worker if you have not created a schedule for them to follow.
Don’t Make These Mistakes
These are some of the mistakes that companies make when they decide that they want to use remote workers. These are relatively simple to avoid once you know what they are. It is possible to find the right remote workers and to provide them with the proper training they need in order to work for your business. Find and hire quality employees and make sure that you choose a software that allows you to create a training program that is tailored for your business. Then, you will be able to reap the benefits of having remote workers.