{"id":6099,"date":"2020-04-22T21:29:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T04:29:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knowyourteam.com\/blog\/?p=6099"},"modified":"2024-10-16T13:04:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T20:04:15","slug":"the-4-critical-questions-to-ask-remote-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canopy.is\/blog\/2020\/04\/22\/the-4-critical-questions-to-ask-remote-employees\/","title":{"rendered":"The 4 critical questions to ask remote employees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Care about remote team morale? These critical questions to ask remote employees can help support your team as a manager.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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During these uncertain times, many of us as leaders might feel beholden have answers<\/em> \u2013 not questions \u2013\u00a0for our team. Questions to ask remote employees<\/a> are likely not top-of-mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re expected to have answers to things like, “When will we be able to go back into the office?<\/em>” or “Will certain team members will have their jobs still in a few weeks?<\/em>” or “What’s the outlook of the business six months from now?<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s natural and understandable. Answers, not questions, seem to be our focus right now as leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet in order to do our job well as leaders, questions<\/em> are what can offer insight, understanding, and resolution \u2013 more than we might imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right questions<\/em> to ask remote employees can help you, as a manager, understand how your employees are coping with these tough times of COVID-19 \u2013 and what they might need most from you as a manager. Even the act of asking a question in the first place can demonstrate that you care, as a leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, the UberEats lunch you bought for everyone was a nice perk\u2026 But when’s the last time you asked someone what time of day they are most productive while working remotely<\/a>? A single meaningful question can make all the difference for employee morale<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won’t just give you one question, though. Below are the 4 most critical questions to ask remote employees \u2013 plus 10 other recommended follow-up questions to ask. To understand truly how your team is doing right now during these trying times and best support<\/a> them, start with these questions here\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1: How would you describe your level of energy these days?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’re taking the temperature with this question \u2013 it’ll give you a good overall read of how a remote employee is doing. Additionally, because you’re asking about “level of energy,” it gives the other person permission to share that they may feel worn thin and drained more than usual. You want the truthful answer of how they’re actually doing, so you can then accordingly support them as a manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow-up questions<\/strong> you can ask to better assess their current situation and support them include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n