When everyone is working from the office, it’s easy to check in with your team at their desks, ask what they’re working on, and track their progress. But with remote work, this changes.

While remote work offers a better work-life balance, it also brings its own challenges—particularly when it comes to measuring productivity.

In a traditional office setting, you can gauge productivity by the hours spent in the office. For some it is 8 hours, for others it is staying till nightfall. However, in a remote working environment, it is not the same thing.  

In this article, we will give some strategies on how to measure productivity in your remote teams. No, this doesn’t involve surveillance or monitoring software. Instead, it’s about measuring engagement, performance, and results.

The goal is not to know what your employees are doing every minute of the workday. It’s about the end result for the employer, rather than the journey the employee chooses to get there.

The strategies we will share here are not only applicable to teams within the same country but can also be applied to international teams, allowing you to tap into overseas talent.

Be Clear on Objectives and KPIs

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are specific, measurable, and time-bound goals that help you track and evaluate progress. They can measure various aspects of productivity, such as the number of tasks completed, the quality of work, and the work rate.

The first step in measuring productivity is developing clear priorities. Focus on the most important responsibilities for each employee in the company. This ensures that employees spend their time on the things that matter. 

When creating these priorities, consider input from team members themselves. This collaborative approach aligns everyone’s understanding of their roles, making KPIs the guiding force, regardless of whether employees are working in-office or from home.

Make Use of Project Management Software  

Project management software are very important for remote work. These tools enable managers to measure productivity across teams without resorting to micromanagement, making it easy to see how tasks are progressing.

For goals as well as everyday work, tools like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com can be used to assign project tasks across teams. Employees/Managers can maintain private boards for day-to-day to-do lists, but most tasks should be kept in team groups, where managers can assign and track them. These tools often include features like documentation and progress tracking, allowing for real-time collaboration.

Establish Specific Deadlines and Milestones for Delegated Tasks

Some people find satisfaction in ticking off tasks as ‘done,’ as a result, breaking down large projects into milestones can be a motivator. This will not only increase motivation but also make the progress of tasks more visible, allowing managers to see how close a project is to completion.

Breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks and turning them into milestones is a great way to measure productivity as it provides a clear roadmap for both managers and employees, allowing for gradual progress tracking.

Each milestone serves as a key indicator of achievement, marking steps to completion of projects and tasks. This not only helps in measuring productivity but also in identifying potential challenges.

Conduct Regular Check-Ins and Progress Reviews

Regular check-ins are important for maintaining productivity in remote teams. Scheduled one-on-one or team meetings provide an opportunity to discuss progress, address any roadblocks, and offer feedback. These check-ins should be structured, with clear agendas and objectives, to ensure they are productive and not just routine calls. Frequent progress reviews help in realigning team efforts with the overall goals and KPIs. 

Encourage Open Communication and Collaboration

Remote working arrangements cannot succeed without communication. Encouraging team members to share updates, ask questions, and provide feedback in real-time can significantly improve productivity. Make use of communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom to keep everyone connected.

When team members support each other and share knowledge, work is easily done and projects are completed faster.

Look Beyond Hours

One of the key advantages of remote work is flexibility. Instead of solely focusing on the number of hours worked, expand your attention to include the output. Measure productivity by the quality and quantity of work produced, rather than the time spent on it. This approach encourages employees to work more efficiently and can lead to higher overall productivity.

Provide Continuous Training and Development

Investing in the continuous training and development of your remote team can directly impact productivity. Regular training sessions, whether focused on new tools, soft skills, or industry knowledge, allows employees to perform at their best.

Offer online courses, webinars, and virtual workshops tailored to the specific needs of your team. If you cannot afford paid training, you can organise in-house training where members of the team share their ideas with the other team members. 

Balance Flexibility with Accountability

Remote work offers flexibility, but for it to be effective, there needs to be accountability. Clear expectations and regular check-ins help maintain this balance, and when accountability is emphasised to employees, it makes them more intentional in their work.

Being intentional means that employees approach their tasks with a clear purpose and a sense of responsibility. They are more likely to plan their workday strategically, set specific goals, and stay focused on delivering great results for the company. 

Conclusion

With these strategies, you can effectively measure productivity in your remote teams. It doesn’t matter if they’re local or distributed, these tips will help you get great outcomes.

At Arwana, we specialise in connecting global employers with overseas talent in marketing, communications, administration, and design. Partnering with us guarantees access to top-quality offshore talent tailored to your specific needs. 

With our expertise and extensive network, we can connect you with the right professionals who possess the right skills, and are a perfect fit culturally, while helping you save up to £20,000 in salary costs per role. 

If you’re looking to expand your team, please book a commitment-free discovery call with us.