6 tips for managing a telecommuting workforce.

• Position: Going remote?

The need for social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak has many organizations sending their employees to work from home or another remote location. Here are some tactics to help make it easier for managers of teleworkers to promote productivity in a stressful environment:

1. Instill a sense of purpose. People tend to perform better when they know their work matters and that others depend on their efforts. Be sure teleworkers realize the value of what they do, especially under difficult circumstances.

   Managers should provide regular updates on projects. As much as possible, find ways for remote co-workers to support each other by sharing their own success stories.

2. Open lines of communication.

   Technology offers various ways to keep in touch. Figure out which ones work best for you and your teleworkers, and use them.

   Besides including teleworkers in formal back-and-forth such as brain-storming sessions or collaborative editing of shared documents, look for ways to replicate the "water-cooler" conversations that build bonds.

   Tech tools such as Slack, Basecamp, Google Hangouts and Zoom allow virtual workers to interact and work with one another in ways that come close to replicating face-to-face interaction.

3. Establish a clarity of deliverables. Does the employee know exactly what needs to be delivered when, what is owed and how often? How will ongoing work be made physically visible like it used to be, and on what schedule? Develop metrics that can apply to remote work.

4. Provide individual attention. Managers can help staff stay on task and feel...