7 Tips to Create a Productive Culture for Offshore Employees
Building a strong team culture may prove challenging, especially in an organisation where the members come from different backgrounds. Inclusion plays an important role in overcoming this obstacle.
Whether they are part of the onshore or offshore team, getting everybody on board is vital in maintaining organisational effectiveness. Indeed, one of the biggest mistakes a company can make is to treat its offshore team as a separate part of the organisation.
For one thing, the most productive offshore teams are those who feel they are part of the organisation. Not only do they complete tasks with enthusiasm but they also inspire others to help the company reach its goals.
So, how do you create a culture of productivity that transcends borders? Below are some tips on how to manage your offshore team for a productive work environment. But first, let us define productivity and its importance in running a business.
What is Productivity and Why Does It Matter to Businesses?
Productivity refers to the amount of work accomplished within a certain time or period. It measures how efficiently employees use their work hours to drive revenue growth. For small and medium enterprises, one common method of gauging productivity involves measuring the company’s goals against the amount of tasks completed by the employees.
Businesses stand to gain from having a productive workforce. According to a survey, companies with productive employees are likely to generate a 20% increase in sales. Likewise, firms with highly engaged employees have a 21% greater profitability than those that do not.
Promoting productivity within the organisation enables employees to be more involved in achieving the company’s goals. This results in a more collaborative approach to solving business problems. It also leads to satisfied and happy customers as more results are delivered, helping boost profits.
7 Tips to Create a Productive Culture for Offshore Employees
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Clarify the roles of each offshore staff
Similar to managing your onshore team, you have to be clear about your expectations with your offshore staff. It is not enough that they know what their job description is. You will also need to explain other specifics you need from them.
This accountability measure can help them determine which projects need to be prioritised and which ones can be completed later.
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Establish a tracking system for tasks
Managing a remote team is no easy feat. As such, establishing a tracking system for all pending tasks and deliverables can help make things more organised. There are various task management tools and software you can choose from to help you organise projects and sort them according to priority.
By having a tracking system in place, you can easily check tasks that have been accomplished and promptly follow up on assignments your offshore team may have missed.
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Use technology to improve the offshore work experience
Maximising technology can greatly improve offshore work experience, as it facilitates communication and task completion. For instance, you can provide collaborative software where your offshore team can edit documents and share files so they can do things in real-time. This will enable them to stay on top of their tasks, helping them to complete projects on time or even earlier.
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Encourage feedback
Another way of promoting a productivity culture among your offshore team is to encourage constructive feedback. For example, you can provide a feedback sheet for them to fill out after a project has been completed. Anonymous employee surveys can also generate honest input from employees.
When employees feel that their views are valued, they tend to perform more enthusiastically at work. According to a survey, 72% of the respondents who felt they were heard have reported being more engaged at work.
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Build a culture of collaboration
Collaboration helps enhance organisational efficiency and productivity by facilitating the completion of tasks. Thus, this approach should be among your priorities in managing your offshore team.
One way to build a collaborative work environment is to invest in collaborative tools like messaging apps, survey platforms, and employee experience hubs. This will allow your offshore employees to communicate more efficiently, enabling them to deliver results faster.
Another way to promote teamwork among your offshore team is to encourage engagement between teams. This allows for a diversity of ideas and inputs, which helps produce richer outputs.
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Recognise good performance
Recognising employees for their good performance helps in keeping them motivated to maintain their performance or even do better. According to a survey by Deloitte, recognition helps enhance employee engagement, thereby improving job performance. In fact, employee performance, engagement, and productivity are 14% higher in organisations that prioritise recognition than those that do not.
A great way to show appreciation for offshore employees is by commending them during an all-hands meeting or in team chats. An internal rewards program also increases employee engagement and loyalty, as it is a tangible way of recognising their hard work and dedication.
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Engage offshore employees in team-building activities
Engaging your offshore team through team-building activities is another way to build collaborative relationships within your organisation. There are various online games you can organise for your remote team, such as typing speed race, virtual dance party, and virtual book club. The goal is to foster connection by having fun together.
In addition, involving your offshore team in team-building activities will allow them to get to know one another, fostering trust and understanding within the group.
Foster Inclusivity, Increase Your Business Revenue
Organisational productivity is at the heart of increased business profitability. This entails keeping the productivity levels of both your onshore and offshore teams at their peak. To do this, you have to give your offshore team the support they need to be productive in a remote setting, just like how you would with your onshore team.
If you are looking to expand your business, consider working with a BPO in the Philippines. At optiBPO, we can help you build and manage a dedicated offshore team in the Philippines that serves as an extension of your organisation. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
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