Remote workers have the potential to be just as productive (some would argue more productive) as on-site workers, but that all depends on motivation. On-site workers can be motivated by peer pressure, seeing all of their co-workers hard at work. Remote workers, on the other hand, have to be self-motivated. This can be difficult, especially for employees used to working near the rest of their team. Here are some ways to help them out:

Give Meaningful Assignments

People generally want to make a difference in their world, whether it’s in work or home life. Giving your employees something meaningful to work on can boost their feeling of importance and motivation. When you assign anything to your remote employees, make sure to explain why it’s important to the company. Additionally, you can give your employees challenging assignments that allow them to stretch their capabilities and feel more engaged.

Set Goals

When people are being held accountable, they are more likely to do good work. Work with your remote workers to set realistic goals and deadlines for their work. Ask for updates on those same goals consistently to hold your remote employees accountable. This will help them to be motivated to do work quickly and well.

Show Appreciation

Employees like to feel appreciated, especially when they’re proud of the work they’ve done. Find ways to let remote employees share their work with others in your company. You can do this through video call meetings, or on an informal chat. When your employees show you their work, make sure to point out the positives. Employees will be more motivated to do good work if they know they can receive positive feedback.

Support Individuals

Different people have different needs. Make sure you’re paying attention to what your remote employees need on an individual basis. Schedule check-ins and ask open ended questions to get a better feel for how your employees feel. This will help your employees to feel important and be motivated to do good work.

Use this advice to help your remote employees become self-motivated.