As extra corporations ponder the way forward for distant work, it’s going to be vital to maintain distant groups engaged with your corporation and model. For the previous 6 years, I’ve been part of BKA Content, a award-winning firm based mostly in Utah, that has maintained a superb repute amongst its writers for creating a superb distant working surroundings and identified for its excessive requirements.
In accordance with Matt Secrist, co-founder and COO, BKA has over 600 unbiased contractors and 20 staff, all of whom work remotely. Over 200 of these writers have been with the corporate for 2 or extra years. About 30 writers have been with the corporate for greater than 6 years. It’s not straightforward to maintain freelancers on board that lengthy with out some sturdy ties to the corporate.
Communication
Secrist states, “I believe frequent communication…(makes) an enormous distinction.” I concur with this assertion. BKA sends out a weekly e-newsletter to all its writers. After six years, I nonetheless get pleasure from studying it as a result of it at all times provides related data. Their tradition comes by means of within the e-newsletter. It’s not preachy. Typically, they’ve enjoyable video games and contests that create camaraderie and provides us enjoyable issues past writing. The e-newsletter additionally retains us updated with AP grammar and different trade gadgets. However it’s by no means a newspaper, so it’s fast to learn. We even have a Fb group during which we are able to work together. The leaders are dedicated to conserving the distant groups engaged.
Organized processes
Beginning with the coaching modules, BKA creates a powerful tradition by means of group and clear targets. Their sturdy onboarding course of set requirements instantly. Their writers weren’t left to their very own machine. I labored carefully with one particular person for the primary few items I turned in, which is core to their success in conserving wonderful writers. Their enterprise has grown a lot that they’ve created groups for sure accounts. Secrist estimates that they’ve greater than 150 particular person groups. I take care of one account supervisor for every crew, which strengthens the bonds between folks. We aren’t simply e mail accounts, however actual folks working collectively.
Clear targets and requirements
I imagine one of many keys to BKA’s success is that it’s clear with its targets and requirements. Writers are required to show in a certain quantity each week, which suggests it must be a part of our routine. Each account has a mode information with detailed directions for writing for that model. We’re inspired to contact the account supervisor with questions. The account managers at all times reply in a well timed method with professionalism. The tradition of BKA is positivity. Regardless that missed deadlines can have penalties, there may be grace and adaptability. In six years, I can say that they’ve at all times handled me pretty, which is a core worth of the corporate.
Transparency
The management is at all times clear with the writers. After we’ve had a hiccup with payroll, the CFO has at all times addressed it head-on and never prevaricated. It’s at all times been fastened as fast as attainable. I had misplaced over $200 over a interval of 4 months as a result of one cost quantity had gotten modified to $0 within the system. Once I found it, the account supervisor had it corrected that day and added the quantity to my subsequent deposit. Coping with points, particularly monetary points, rapidly is vital to conserving distant staff engaged.
Distant work is right here to remain
Secrist helps my very own insights by saying, (BKA has) “labored to construct an internet neighborhood the place folks really feel valued and heard. Being variety to, invested in, and within the folks we rub shoulders with in a digital setting has created an environment of mutual respect.”
We could also be seeing an finish to the pandemic, however staff need distant work. No matter how that appears in your organization, it’s important to handle methods to hold your distant groups engaged whereas giving them flexibility. Taking a look at different corporations and the way they do it might probably aid you create a strong crew who’re on the identical web page.