As more and more companies adopt remote work policies, the question of how to effectively track employee performance becomes increasingly important. After all, without the ability to observe workers in person, it can be harder to tell whether they are meeting expectations.
Traditional performance metrics such as attendance and punctuality may not be as relevant for remote employees, who may not have set office hours. Additionally, productivity can be difficult to measure when workers are not all using the same tools or working on the same types of tasks. As a result, managers of remote teams may need to get creative when it comes to tracking employee performance. One approach is to focus on outcomes rather than processes, setting specific goals and measuring whether they are met.
If you manage a team that is spread out across different locations, you know how important it is to keep everyone on the same page and working together towards common goals. One way to do this is to implement OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).
OKRs can help improve remote productivity in a few ways:
- Provide a clear framework for setting and measuring progress:
Any successful business or individual will have a clear set of goals to strive for, and a plan for how to achieve those goals. However, it can often be difficult to measure progress towards goals or to know whether you are on track to achieve them. This is where OKRs come in. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) provide a framework for setting measurable goals and tracking progress over time. By ticking off key results, you can ensure that you are making steady progress toward your objectives. What’s more, because OKRs are typically set every quarter, they help you to course-correct if you find yourself veering off track. In short, OKRs provide a clear and effective way to measure progress and ensure that you are on track to achieve your goals.
- Help everyone stay focused on the most important tasks
One of the challenges of working remotely is that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. With no co-workers around to offer a reminder, it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind and forget why you’re doing what you’re doing. By clearly articulating what you want to achieve, and then measuring your progress along the way, OKRs can help keep you focused on the ultimate goal. What’s more, because they provide a clear roadmap for success, OKRs can help reduce feelings of anxiety and insecurity that often accompany remote work.
- Encourage communication and collaboration
OKRs provide a clear framework for setting goals and measuring progress, and they can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page. They also allow for regular check-ins and feedback, which can help to identify areas of improvement. When used correctly, OKRs can be a powerful tool for increasing collaboration between remote employees.
- Make it easy to track progress and identify areas of improvement
Working from home has its perks: no commute, relaxed dress code, and the ability to take breaks whenever you want. However, it can also be difficult to stay focused and on task when there are so many distractions. By setting specific and measurable goals, employees can easily track their progress and see where they need to make improvements. Additionally, OKRs can help to keep employees accountable by providing clear milestones to strive for. As a result, OKRs are an effective tool for helping remote employees stay focused and on track.
- Reduce biases
We all have biases, whether we realize it or not. And when it comes to remote employees, those subconscious biases can come into play. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) can help to reduce those biases by making sure that everyone is working towards the same goals. With OKRs in place, everyone knows what they need to do and why it’s important. That level of transparency can help to prevent remote employees from being treated differently based on factors like gender, race, or nationality.
Additionally, regular check-ins and progress reports can help to keep everyone on track and accountable. In uncertain times, OKRs can be a valuable way to keep your business moving forward.
Check if you are ready to use OKRs for your company by clicking here.