How to Engage and Motivate your Virtual Assistants

Virtual Assistants are effective workers without the structured environment of the office. Their services are accessible and most importantly, affordable.

However, virtual workforce is still a rather novel concept to many and there are unspoken managerial fear of losing control.

The key to successful virtual assistance services is trust between the worker and the manager, plus constant and open communication.

Here are some tips to engage and motivate virtual workforce:

1. Virtual workforces need alternate forms of employee engagement and motivation. Fostering team camraderie and sharing common goals requires innovative solutions from organizational management. Here are a few ways to motivate your virtual workforce.
   
2. Invest time upfront to form relationships, despite the distance – Even when face-to-face interaction is challenging finding ways to get to know your workforce is critical to team dynamics and camaraderie. Using tools such as video conferencing and group conference calls is helpful in building relationships and creating time for employees to get to know each other.
   
3. Recognize accomplishments in unique ways – Recognition is a powerful driver for keeping employees engaged in their work. Using rewards and incentives, and recognizing employees over virtual mediums for a job well done is a great way to translate a traditional workplace rewards program into a workable virtual solution.
   
4. Create interactive ways for teams to communicate – Create different channels and mediums for conversation in real time among employees and across teams. Maybe this is an internal project management system, or an instant message client that is required for the company, even a video conferencing service for employees helps keep interaction at a normal level and helps foster a community environment. 

Challenges Faced by Virtual Workforce

It may, at first glance, seem like a dream come true to work in the comforts of home or the local coffee shop and never see the boss. However, satisfaction fluctuates wildly among virtual workers. And here are some of the reasons:

• Lack of understanding of the virtual differences, communication and technology needs.
• Managers that do not support virtual workers by reviewing and responding to things online, but expect in person meetings.
• Lack of communication and training on setting expectations for work
• Overuse of certain technology such as e-mail, IM and voice mail – this seems more extreme because they cannot see the virtual worker to tell what they are doing, so expect a quick response.
• Old corporate culture – not accepting of new ideas and work styles.

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