Whether you are already working remotely, or intend to shift your team towards a remote working arrangement, it is crucial to establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are measurable, realistic, and achievable. As per Small Business Trends, it has been projected that by 2028, around 73% of teams will opt for remote working, and 78% of employees are willing to accept a pay cut ranging from 5-20% in exchange for the option to work from home.
As per a study carried out by Your Best Digs, twenty-one percent of individuals who work remotely cited inadequate collaborative opportunities as a significant downside of remote working, while an equal proportion reported experiencing feelings of isolation due to the same.
As remote working offers greater flexibility, it is important for team leaders and project managers to establish a productive work environment that delivers top-notch results for the company and its clients. Now that we understand the significance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for teams, let us ponder upon some suggestions and concepts for defining appropriate metrics for your remote workforce.
An Overview of Key Performance Indicators and Their Importance
Before delving into the relationship between remote work and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), it is important to familiarize ourselves with the terminology. KPIs refer to a set of objectives linked to growth plans, daily business operations, and other professional or personal goals. They pertain to the finer aspects that lead to the final outcome and are employed for measuring progress.
Integrating suitable key performance indicators (KPIs) can enable employees to assess projects autonomously and make significant contributions to the company without the need for excessive supervision. The feeling of collaboration and a shared sense of purpose that originates from working towards attainable and measurable targets can lead to the collective accomplishment of the team.
CEO of Studicus’s Human Resources Department Justin Miles
Incorporating clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs) into your remote workflow is crucial for maintaining the motivation and success of your team. You can accomplish this by utilizing dedicated tools like Asana or Trello, or by opting for a self-made alternative such as a Google Sheet. If implemented effectively, KPIs can offer numerous advantages to your project’s development and your organization’s reputation, including but not limited to:
Monitoring of tangible, evidence-backed developmental milestones that directly impact the final outcome
Supervision of the project’s advancement for your team and the wider organization
Improved ability to make decisions, modify projects, and evaluate their effectiveness
Simplification of team performance evaluation and feedback
Heightened team morale leading to better output quality and quicker turnaround time
Effective Key Performance Indicator Approaches for Remote Work
Simplicity is Key for Optimal Results
It is crucial to ensure that your key performance indicators (KPIs) for your remote workforce are uncomplicated and uncomplicated. As not everyone in your team may be accustomed to technical jargon or industry-specific terminology, the simplicity of the KPIs will depend on the project and the individuals involved.
It is vital to express key performance indicators (KPIs) in clear and easily understandable language for all parties involved, including external consultants. As a team leader, it is crucial to accompany your KPIs with numerical figures that provide an indication of the expected outcome and the timeline for achieving it. By keeping your KPIs succinct and precise, remote team members can contribute productively regardless of location. For instance, the following objective is not a KPI as it is too vague and lacks measurable targets: ‘New procedures for handling customer service requests must be implemented by June 2023’. To achieve this objective, specific and quantifiable objectives need to be established.
A clear example of a well-defined key performance indicator (KPI) can be found in this article. The objective is to boost customer satisfaction by 30% through streamlined procedures in customer service and management. Follow-up surveys will be conducted with customers who received service between January and June 2023 to gauge the success of the initiative. This approach ensures that the collected data is relevant and accurate in measuring the results. For the remote customer care team to understand the purpose of the survey, it is crucial to design it clearly and communicate its purpose to the team. This will allow them to easily gather necessary information following each customer service interaction.
Individualization Over Standardization
It is crucial to acknowledge that every member of your team has something unique to contribute, regardless of the nature of the project. Therefore, while delineating key performance indicators (KPIs), it is vital to consider the team members’ professional backgrounds and prioritize future deliverables accordingly.
Even if your team collaborates seamlessly, each member is likely to possess unique skills and perspectives they would like to bring to the table. Therefore, it is crucial to provide metrics customized to each individual to ensure that everyone has a chance to discover their niche and feel a sense of achievement. This approach can foster a more productive and effective work atmosphere.
WoWGrade’s Department Head of Content Teresa Quinn
If your organization has the advantage of having a Public Relations specialist and a Writer on the team, it is not essential to choose between setting objectives and assessing performance for PR and Content. Rather than that, remote team members could collaborate by selecting the KPIs that align best with their skills and interests.
Collective Team Monitoring
Regardless of the magnitude or disparity between the project deadlines, it is vital to ensure that all remote team members have access to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established. In doing so, all team participants can stay abreast of developments and provide timely, valuable feedback to their colleagues.
Adopting individual KPIs can create a sense of separation among team members, leading to a lack of motivation that may prove challenging to remedy later on. Monitoring KPIs at the team-level can cultivate an environment of transparency and collaboration, regardless of the KPIs’ significance or complexity.
Draw Inspiration by Taking a Break
Acknowledging and rewarding remote employees for their hard work and commitment is critical. Even a basic Reward & Recognition (R&R) program can boost motivation and productivity in your team.
Employees who consistently exceed their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) deserve recognition and reward for their dedication and efforts. For instance, surpassing the expected number of emails or exceeding other targets should be acknowledged. Offering incentives such as a Netflix or Amazon gift card can motivate individuals to keep delivering their best performance. This approach has proven to be effective in numerous organizations.
Maintaining Consistent Check-Ins and Reviews
Despite being experienced and responsible adults, regular check-ins and team meetings are still necessary for remote employees. These events help ensure that everyone is accountable for their Key Performance Indicators and assist in ensuring that all team members consistently meet their targets.
Organizing regular and appropriately timed virtual meetings for your remote workforce almost always enhances their efficiency. Pairing this with a well-defined schedule can help keep all team members motivated and focused each day, despite their physical distance from one another.
Pick the Writer’s Human Resources Expert, Samantha Brook
Reviews and Reevaluations
It’s important to remember that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are not rigid rules when it comes to remote work. KPIs that do not add value to the project’s overall success, or are unclear or extraneous, should be reassessed and potentially eliminated.
It is crucial to recognize that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are not obligatory in remote work situations. Nonetheless, they can be a beneficial addition that can enhance team efficiency and morale. Rather than seeing KPIs as the ultimate authority, utilize them as a helpful instrument to support your team’s growth and advancement.
To Sum Up
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be a powerful tool for motivating your team to achieve more. When developing a KPI system, it is critical to consider the project’s nature as well as the geographical and time-zone differences of your remote workforce. Input and feedback from your team are also essential, as they are the ones actively working to meet the system’s expectations on a regular basis. By promptly establishing a system that benefits both you as a project leader and each team member, you can effectively leverage your projects and watch them thrive.
