Workpuls Teramind ActivTrak Hubstaff DeskTime Time Doctor RescueTime Kickidler Veriato Work Examiner
OVERVIEW
Price $6/user/month $6/user/month $7.20/user/month $7/user/month $7/user/month $9.99/user/month $6/user/month $9.99/user/month $150/licence/year $60/licence (lifetime)
Free trial 7 days 7 days No 14 days 14 days 14 days 30 days 7 days Yes 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Very easy Easy Easy Very easy Very easy Very easy Very difficult Easy
TRACKING METHODS
Unlimited (tracker working 24/7)
Fixed (defined working hours)
Automatic (when computer is connected to a specified network)
Manual (start/stop)
Project based (track time only on projects)
GENERAL MONITORING FEATURES
Stealth mode
App and website usage
Real-time monitoring
Offline time tracking
Attendance
Activity levels
Keylogger
Geolocation
Remote desktop control
Website/activity blocking
SCREENSHOTS AND RECORDING
Screenshots
Screenshots on demand
Screen recording
PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES
Productivity trends
Websites and apps labeling
Category labeling
Productivity alerts
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES
User behavior analytics
Data loss prevention
Advanced file and web monitoring
REPORTING
Productivity reports
Team reports
Timelines
Email reports
Access management
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
Mobile app iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android Android
Browser extension Chrome Chrome Chrome
Other Citrix, VMware Chrome OS
OTHER
Support Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Email, online Phone, email, online, in-person Online Phone, email, online Email, online, Viber, Whatsapp Phone, email, online, support ticket Phone, email, online
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Integrations comming soon
API
Deployment cloud, on-premise cloud, on-premise, AWS, Azure cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud on-premise cloud, on-premise on-premise
Kronos Humanity Timeclockplus Tsheets Wheniwork Deputy Replicon Jibble EbilityTimeTracker OnTheClock BeeBole
OVERVIEW
Price(per month)Available upon requestFrom $2 per userAvailable upon requestFrom $6.40 per user+$16Free for up to 75 usersFrom $2.50 per userBasic plan:$30 for 5 users+$5 per additional userFrom $1.50 per employeeFrom $4 per user+$8From $2.20 per user$5.99 per user per month
Free trial30 days14 daysYes14 days14 days14 days30 days30 days,no credit card required
Ease of useDifficultEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyEasy
FEATURES
Timecard management
Scheduling
Shift Trading
Timesheets
Break time management
Real-time tracking
PTO Management
Payroll
Invoicing
Client billing
GPS tracking
Clock out reminders
Alerts
Manual time
PUNCH-IN METHODS
Web app
Mobile app
Time clock device
Time clock kiosk
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Geofencing
Group punch-in
REPORTING
Visual reports
Email reports
Time rounding
MANAGEMENT
Permissions
Manager approvals
Add time for others
Integrations
PLATFORMS
Web
Android app
iOS app
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
OTHER
SupportPhone and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,chat and onlinePhone and chatEmail and onlineChat and phonePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlineOnline chat and video support in English,French,and Spanish
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Community forum
API

Navigating the world of remote work can be tricky, especially when it comes to giving feedback to your team. Without in-person interactions, deciphering employee reactions and making sure your message hits home might seem like a daunting task. 

Stellar feedback is the key to unlocking remote team success, and we're here to help you master it.

In this guide, we'll dive into the art of offering feedback to remote teams, explore various feedback models, and unveil how Insightful's best employee monitoring tools can supercharge communication and productivity for your remote workforce. 

Get ready to elevate your feedback game to new heights!

Strategies for Providing Feedback to Remote Teams

To deliver constructive feedback to remote teams, consider the following strategies:

Choose the Right Communication Channel

Select the most appropriate communication channel for providing feedback, whether it's a video call, phone call, or instant messaging. Consider the nature of the feedback and the employee's preferred communication method.

Synchronous communication 


Video calls, phone calls, or instant messaging can provide immediate feedback and offer opportunities for real-time discussion, clarification, and interaction. These methods can be particularly useful for addressing urgent issues, providing praise, or discussing complex topics that may require back-and-forth conversation. 

Tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack can facilitate synchronous communication for remote teams.

Asynchronous communication

Asynchronous communication, such as email, task management tools, or recorded video messages, allows team members to provide and receive feedback at their own pace. This approach can be beneficial for remote teams working across different time zones, as it enables team members to respond thoughtfully and in their own time. 

Asynchronous communication can also help prevent miscommunication by providing a written record of the feedback given. Tools like Trello, Asana, Loom, or Basecamp can support asynchronous communication for remote teams.

Leverage collaboration tools for feedback

Utilize collaboration tools like Google Docs, Notion, or Microsoft Office 365 to provide feedback on specific tasks, projects, or documents. These platforms allow you to leave comments, suggest edits, or track changes, providing clear and actionable feedback for remote team members.

Determine the best channel for each situation


Consider the type of feedback you are providing and the recipient's preferences when choosing the communication channel. For instance, praise and recognition may be more impactful when delivered via a video call or team chat, while constructive feedback or detailed project-related comments may be better suited to asynchronous channels like email or collaboration tools.

Establish communication guidelines

Develop clear guidelines for your remote team outlining the appropriate channels and methods for different types of feedback. This will help ensure consistency and prevent miscommunication while allowing team members to understand and adapt to the expectations for feedback within the remote work environment.

Be Timely and Specific


Provide feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion. Be specific about the situation, the employee's actions, and the impact of those actions.

Be prompt with your feedback


Offering feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion is crucial for remote teams, as it helps address issues, reinforce positive behaviors, and prevent potential misunderstandings. Timely feedback allows employees to make necessary adjustments while the details are still fresh in their minds and apply the feedback to their future work.

Be specific about the situation

When providing feedback, clearly describe the situation, context, or project related to the feedback. This helps employees understand the precise circumstances in which their actions had an impact and can be especially important for remote workers who may not share the same physical workspace or experiences as their colleagues.

Address the employee's actions


Focus on the employee's specific actions or behaviors that contributed to the outcome. By addressing the actions rather than the person, you create a constructive atmosphere that encourages growth and improvement. Avoid making assumptions or using generalizations, as this can lead to confusion and defensiveness.

Describe the impact of the actions


Clearly explain the consequences or results of the employee's actions, whether positive or negative. This helps remote team members understand the significance of their actions on the project, team dynamics, or company goals. Illustrate the connection between their behavior and the outcome to emphasize the importance of the feedback.

Offer guidance for improvement

When providing constructive feedback, suggest actionable steps the employee can take to improve their performance. This demonstrates your support for their growth and ensures that the feedback is solution-oriented rather than solely focused on the problem.

Encourage open dialogue 


Invite remote team members to share their perspective and thoughts on the feedback provided. This promotes a two-way conversation, allowing for clarification and deeper understanding of the situation. An open dialogue also helps build trust and rapport between team members and management.

Balance Positive and Constructive Feedback


Ensure you acknowledge employees' achievements and areas of improvement, fostering a growth mindset and motivation.

Be prompt with your feedback 

Offering feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion is crucial for remote teams, as it helps address issues, reinforce positive behaviors, and prevent potential misunderstandings. Timely feedback allows employees to make necessary adjustments while the details are still fresh in their minds and apply the feedback to their future work.

Be specific about the situation

When providing feedback, clearly describe the situation, context, or project related to the feedback. This helps employees understand the precise circumstances in which their actions had an impact and can be especially important for remote workers who may not share the same physical workspace or experiences as their colleagues.

Address the employee's actions

Focus on the employee's specific actions or behaviors that contributed to the outcome. By addressing the actions rather than the person, you create a constructive atmosphere that encourages growth and improvement. Avoid making assumptions or using generalizations, as this can lead to confusion and defensiveness.

Describe the impact of the actions

Clearly explain the consequences or results of the employee's actions, whether positive or negative. This helps remote team members understand the significance of their actions on the project, team dynamics, or company goals. Illustrate the connection between their behavior and the outcome to emphasize the importance of the feedback.

Offer guidance for improvement

When providing constructive feedback, suggest actionable steps the employee can take to improve their performance. This demonstrates your support for their growth and ensures that the feedback is solution-oriented rather than solely focused on the problem.

Encourage open dialogue

Invite remote team members to share their perspective and thoughts on the feedback provided. This promotes a two-way conversation, allowing for clarification and deeper understanding of the situation. An open dialogue also helps build trust and rapport between team members and management.

Create a Feedback Culture


Encourage open communication within your remote team, promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Lead by example

As a manager or team leader, demonstrate your willingness to give and receive feedback regularly. By embracing feedback, you show your team that it is a valuable aspect of the work environment.

Provide clear guidelines

Establish and communicate guidelines for giving and receiving feedback within the team. This can include setting expectations for constructive criticism, frequency, and specificity.

Encourage peer-to-peer feedback

Facilitate opportunities for team members to provide feedback to each other, as this can foster a sense of trust and collaboration within the team. Encourage employees to share their insights and experiences, fostering a collective learning environment.

Implement feedback tools

Leverage various feedback tools and platforms, such as anonymous surveys, team retrospectives, and performance review software. These tools can facilitate more structured and consistent feedback processes.

Recognize and reward open communication

Acknowledge team members who actively participate in the feedback culture, showcasing their willingness to learn and grow. This can encourage others to engage in the feedback process more openly.

Offer training and support

Provide your team with the necessary resources and training to improve their feedback skills. This can include workshops, webinars, or articles on effective communication and feedback techniques.

Leveraging Insightful's Features for Remote Feedback

Insightful, the  best software to monitor employees, offers valuable features that can enhance the feedback process for remote teams:

  • Productivity management: Insightful solves the problem of how to monitor productivity of remote workers. Gain real-time productivity insights to understand your team's work patterns and identify areas for improvement.

  • Hybrid & remote visibility: Insightful’s employer computer monitoring software helps you maintain clear visibility and transparency, ensuring managers can provide informed feedback to their remote teams.

  • Time & attendance tracking: Automated time and attendance monitoring helps managers identify patterns and trends, allowing for more targeted feedback.

  • Operational efficiency assessment: Analyze task and process efficiency to improve workflows and resource allocation, enabling managers to give specific feedback on performance.

  • Technology usage monitoring: Use Insightful’s employee desktop monitoring software to track how remote team members use apps and websites, identifying potential bottlenecks and areas for improvement in their workflows. This information can be used to provide targeted feedback on technology usage and time management.

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Business Management

Mastering Remote Team Feedback: A Comprehensive Guide for Managers

Written by
Kendra Gaffin
Published on
April 19, 2023

Navigating the world of remote work can be tricky, especially when it comes to giving feedback to your team. Without in-person interactions, deciphering employee reactions and making sure your message hits home might seem like a daunting task. 

Stellar feedback is the key to unlocking remote team success, and we're here to help you master it.

In this guide, we'll dive into the art of offering feedback to remote teams, explore various feedback models, and unveil how Insightful's best employee monitoring tools can supercharge communication and productivity for your remote workforce. 

Get ready to elevate your feedback game to new heights!

Strategies for Providing Feedback to Remote Teams

To deliver constructive feedback to remote teams, consider the following strategies:

Choose the Right Communication Channel

Select the most appropriate communication channel for providing feedback, whether it's a video call, phone call, or instant messaging. Consider the nature of the feedback and the employee's preferred communication method.

Synchronous communication 


Video calls, phone calls, or instant messaging can provide immediate feedback and offer opportunities for real-time discussion, clarification, and interaction. These methods can be particularly useful for addressing urgent issues, providing praise, or discussing complex topics that may require back-and-forth conversation. 

Tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack can facilitate synchronous communication for remote teams.

Asynchronous communication

Asynchronous communication, such as email, task management tools, or recorded video messages, allows team members to provide and receive feedback at their own pace. This approach can be beneficial for remote teams working across different time zones, as it enables team members to respond thoughtfully and in their own time. 

Asynchronous communication can also help prevent miscommunication by providing a written record of the feedback given. Tools like Trello, Asana, Loom, or Basecamp can support asynchronous communication for remote teams.

Leverage collaboration tools for feedback

Utilize collaboration tools like Google Docs, Notion, or Microsoft Office 365 to provide feedback on specific tasks, projects, or documents. These platforms allow you to leave comments, suggest edits, or track changes, providing clear and actionable feedback for remote team members.

Determine the best channel for each situation


Consider the type of feedback you are providing and the recipient's preferences when choosing the communication channel. For instance, praise and recognition may be more impactful when delivered via a video call or team chat, while constructive feedback or detailed project-related comments may be better suited to asynchronous channels like email or collaboration tools.

Establish communication guidelines

Develop clear guidelines for your remote team outlining the appropriate channels and methods for different types of feedback. This will help ensure consistency and prevent miscommunication while allowing team members to understand and adapt to the expectations for feedback within the remote work environment.

Be Timely and Specific


Provide feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion. Be specific about the situation, the employee's actions, and the impact of those actions.

Be prompt with your feedback


Offering feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion is crucial for remote teams, as it helps address issues, reinforce positive behaviors, and prevent potential misunderstandings. Timely feedback allows employees to make necessary adjustments while the details are still fresh in their minds and apply the feedback to their future work.

Be specific about the situation

When providing feedback, clearly describe the situation, context, or project related to the feedback. This helps employees understand the precise circumstances in which their actions had an impact and can be especially important for remote workers who may not share the same physical workspace or experiences as their colleagues.

Address the employee's actions


Focus on the employee's specific actions or behaviors that contributed to the outcome. By addressing the actions rather than the person, you create a constructive atmosphere that encourages growth and improvement. Avoid making assumptions or using generalizations, as this can lead to confusion and defensiveness.

Describe the impact of the actions


Clearly explain the consequences or results of the employee's actions, whether positive or negative. This helps remote team members understand the significance of their actions on the project, team dynamics, or company goals. Illustrate the connection between their behavior and the outcome to emphasize the importance of the feedback.

Offer guidance for improvement

When providing constructive feedback, suggest actionable steps the employee can take to improve their performance. This demonstrates your support for their growth and ensures that the feedback is solution-oriented rather than solely focused on the problem.

Encourage open dialogue 


Invite remote team members to share their perspective and thoughts on the feedback provided. This promotes a two-way conversation, allowing for clarification and deeper understanding of the situation. An open dialogue also helps build trust and rapport between team members and management.

Balance Positive and Constructive Feedback


Ensure you acknowledge employees' achievements and areas of improvement, fostering a growth mindset and motivation.

Be prompt with your feedback 

Offering feedback as soon as possible after an event or task completion is crucial for remote teams, as it helps address issues, reinforce positive behaviors, and prevent potential misunderstandings. Timely feedback allows employees to make necessary adjustments while the details are still fresh in their minds and apply the feedback to their future work.

Be specific about the situation

When providing feedback, clearly describe the situation, context, or project related to the feedback. This helps employees understand the precise circumstances in which their actions had an impact and can be especially important for remote workers who may not share the same physical workspace or experiences as their colleagues.

Address the employee's actions

Focus on the employee's specific actions or behaviors that contributed to the outcome. By addressing the actions rather than the person, you create a constructive atmosphere that encourages growth and improvement. Avoid making assumptions or using generalizations, as this can lead to confusion and defensiveness.

Describe the impact of the actions

Clearly explain the consequences or results of the employee's actions, whether positive or negative. This helps remote team members understand the significance of their actions on the project, team dynamics, or company goals. Illustrate the connection between their behavior and the outcome to emphasize the importance of the feedback.

Offer guidance for improvement

When providing constructive feedback, suggest actionable steps the employee can take to improve their performance. This demonstrates your support for their growth and ensures that the feedback is solution-oriented rather than solely focused on the problem.

Encourage open dialogue

Invite remote team members to share their perspective and thoughts on the feedback provided. This promotes a two-way conversation, allowing for clarification and deeper understanding of the situation. An open dialogue also helps build trust and rapport between team members and management.

Create a Feedback Culture


Encourage open communication within your remote team, promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Lead by example

As a manager or team leader, demonstrate your willingness to give and receive feedback regularly. By embracing feedback, you show your team that it is a valuable aspect of the work environment.

Provide clear guidelines

Establish and communicate guidelines for giving and receiving feedback within the team. This can include setting expectations for constructive criticism, frequency, and specificity.

Encourage peer-to-peer feedback

Facilitate opportunities for team members to provide feedback to each other, as this can foster a sense of trust and collaboration within the team. Encourage employees to share their insights and experiences, fostering a collective learning environment.

Implement feedback tools

Leverage various feedback tools and platforms, such as anonymous surveys, team retrospectives, and performance review software. These tools can facilitate more structured and consistent feedback processes.

Recognize and reward open communication

Acknowledge team members who actively participate in the feedback culture, showcasing their willingness to learn and grow. This can encourage others to engage in the feedback process more openly.

Offer training and support

Provide your team with the necessary resources and training to improve their feedback skills. This can include workshops, webinars, or articles on effective communication and feedback techniques.

Leveraging Insightful's Features for Remote Feedback

Insightful, the  best software to monitor employees, offers valuable features that can enhance the feedback process for remote teams:

  • Productivity management: Insightful solves the problem of how to monitor productivity of remote workers. Gain real-time productivity insights to understand your team's work patterns and identify areas for improvement.

  • Hybrid & remote visibility: Insightful’s employer computer monitoring software helps you maintain clear visibility and transparency, ensuring managers can provide informed feedback to their remote teams.

  • Time & attendance tracking: Automated time and attendance monitoring helps managers identify patterns and trends, allowing for more targeted feedback.

  • Operational efficiency assessment: Analyze task and process efficiency to improve workflows and resource allocation, enabling managers to give specific feedback on performance.

  • Technology usage monitoring: Use Insightful’s employee desktop monitoring software to track how remote team members use apps and websites, identifying potential bottlenecks and areas for improvement in their workflows. This information can be used to provide targeted feedback on technology usage and time management.