If your team doesn’t know what you expect them to do, it is very hard if not impossible for them to live up to your expectations. The same is true for goals: If you never communicate the overall goal for both your team and every team member individually, they will have a hard time knowing what they are supposed to do. That is why it is crucial to set clear goals for everyone and to tell them what you expect from them.
This should best be put down in writing, for example in an onboarding e-mail, so your remote workers can always go back to it and remind themselves of what their priorities are. Do this with every team member right at the beginning and frequently revisit these goals to see if everyone’s staying on track. At the same time, communicate clearly what you expect from them. Get everyone on the same page when it comes to their responsibilities and freedoms, as well. This helps to eliminate unnecessary revisions and to answer frequently asked questions in a more organized and effective manner.