Author: Quinten Vyncke
Date of Publication: 26/02/2023
Nowadays, it’s really common for people to work remotely. In fact, the shift towards remote work was already underway, but the pandemic made it a sudden reality for many businesses. Overnight, companies had to find ways to manage remote employees and ensure that they could work effectively from home. As you can imagine, this was a challenge for many managers who had never managed a virtual team before.
As this mode of working is here to stay, a good remote environment has become mandatory for many companies. So, let's take a look at some tips on how to manage remote teams effectively.
Hybrid or fully remote working
It's been shown that more and more companies consider a hybrid or fully remote workforce. Both working options have pros and cons. However, there are some specific things you should keep in mind before applying either one of them if you want to manage your remote teams well. Below are some of the best practices for managing remote teams, including virtual team building and remote managing.
1. Communication is the key
One of the biggest challenges in the management of remote teams is communication. When you don't have the opportunity to walk down the hall and have a quick chat with someone, you need to find new ways to stay in touch and organize team meetings. Therefore, make sure you're checking in with your remote employees on a regular basis.
In addition, you may want to consider using a combination of email, instant messaging, video calls, and phone calls to keep in touch and improve your online social interaction.
2. Set clear expectations
When you're managing a virtual team, it's important to set clear expectations. Make sure your remote workers know what's expected of them, both in terms of their work and their communication. Be clear about deadlines and timelines, and make sure everyone is on the same page.
3. Foster team work from home
Another big challenge in the management of remote employees is the potential for isolation. Indeed, when it comes to remote work, creating a virtual team that feels connected and engaged is hard. Nevertheless, there are a few things one can do to foster a sense of teamwork even when working from home. For example, scheduling virtual team building activities, such as games or team challenges, can help in building camaraderie between team members.
4. Use technology to your advantage
There are many communication tools and platforms available that can help with remote management. Some ideas include Trello or Asana, which are project management tools. These can help you stay organized and keep track of deadlines. Moreover, you can use video conferencing tools like Zoom or Skype to conduct virtual meetings. These ensure that performance remains high and that everyone is on the same page.
5. Trust your remote employees
When you're managing remote workers, it's important to trust them to get their job done. In other words, don’t micromanage, because this could damage their morale and lower their motivation. As long as you set clear expectations and deadlines, you can trust that your remote employees will meet them. In addition, give your remote employees the space and autonomy they need to succeed. Nevertheless, make sure you remain available to answer any questions they might have and provide support.
6. Be flexible
Additionally, it’s important to be flexible when managing remote teams. Remember that everyone is working in a different environment, with different challenges and distractions. Therefore, you should be open to accommodating different work styles and schedules. Also, you should be willing to make adjustments when needed so as to help your virtual team succeed.
7. Understand time differences
Finally, it is essential to understand that time differences can affect the way you manage remote teams. In fact, to manage remote teams effectively, you should make sure that employees don’t feel left out because of the different time zones. To do this, you can try to accommodate a working culture that includes as many time zones as possible. In addition, you may want to schedule meetings at different times, so that everyone feels like they are part of the community.
How to manage remote teams in a nutshell
Managing remote teams requires a different set of skills and strategies than managing a traditional office-based team. Communication, clear expectations, team building, technology, trust, and flexibility are all essential components of successful remote management.
Giving your employees the opportunity to have a good work-life balance is also important in this situation. As a result, with the right approach, you can build a strong virtual team that works effectively from home and achieves your business goals.