As the demand for flextime and the option to work from home (or anywhere) has gained steam, the challenges managers and organizations face for how to manage work and hold everyone accountable are increasing.

Remote workers can be just as - if not more - productive than those working out of the main office. A recent study at Stanford University found that the productivity increase is "equivalent to an extra day per person per week."

So as today's dynamic workforce continues to shape remote work policies, expect this benefit to stick around. The challenge then for managers is how to manage employees that they don't see in person on a daily basis.

Managers and their teams can stay in step through a collaborative work management platform, such as Smartsheet, that encourages more visibility into work as it happens. A common platform helps managers, sets up the context for assignments, and caters to individuals and teams, so remote workers can stay engaged and achieve more.