One of the challenges of managing people from afar is having a good sense of how they’re performing. Virtual workers may be more prone to loneliness and loss of motivation, which can result in compromised performance. Since you don’t usually get the opportunity to pick up visual cues or have impromptu conversations with remote employees, make an extra effort to see how they’re doing. Stay alert for signs of burnout by checking in regularly. Since this won’t happen spontaneously in the hallway or cafeteria, schedule frequent conversations by phone or videoconference. Pay attention to virtual employees’ tone of voice and other signals that can indicate their level of engagement. Consider asking directly about how they’re feeling about work so that they know you care.
Source: Adapted from the HBR Guide to Performance Management