Post COVID-19, many are now fortunate to call a cozy corner of their home their office. They have traded in the daily commute for a more comfortable work environment. While remote work has its perks, it can sometimes be a headache for team leads! Most team leaders will admit that managing a virtual team is definitely more challenging than in-office groups. Whether you are guiding a small remote team or expanding your team globally, mastering the art of remote management is essential. In this blog, we will dive into some effective remote team management strategies that will not only boost productivity but also offer a sense of community and collaboration to all.
- Set Clear Guidelines
Define clear guidelines for how the team should operate. While flexibility is key, ensure everyone understands the rules they need to follow.
- Team Meetings: There should be a consistent time for meetings that accommodates all time zones and everyone should be aware of this. This will ensure full participation without disrupting personal schedules.
- Communication: Use the right communication tools for the right purposes. Use email for formal updates and reserve instant messaging platforms like Slack for casual or non-urgent discussions.
- Workflows: Implement both automated and manual workflows to ensure tasks progress smoothly, even when communication gaps arise.
- Time Zone: While managing your remote team, this is a top point to keep in mind. Be mindful of team members’ different time zones and schedule critical tasks and meetings at times that are reasonable for everyone.
- Response Times: Set expectations for response times to messages or emails, so no one is left waiting for urgent updates.
- Reporting Protocols: Create a structured reporting system to keep track of ongoing projects and individual progress, reducing the need for constant check-ins.
- Accountability
Manage your remote team by fostering accountability. This means granting employees some level of autonomy over their tasks. But at the same time, ensure they also take ownership of their outcomes. Success should be linked to measurable goals within their control. Regularly have them update you on progress and challenges during one-on-one meetings and team check-ins.
- Use the Right Tools
You will need to equip your remote team with the right tools. You can ensure smooth collaboration and productivity this way. Invest in remote-friendly employee productivity software such as:
- Asana: For project management
- Figma: Online whiteboard and design tool
- Google Drive: Cloud file storage and sharing
- Slack: For team messages
- Zoom: For video calls
- GitHub: Software development collaboration tool
- InVision: Design & collaboration platform
- LastPass: for password management & sharing
- Prioritize Output Over Input
This is a remote team management tip needed as a reminder for most managers. Prioritize results over hours worked. Micromanaging remote teams can be counterproductive. It is better to focus on the output rather than tracking every detail. It is not about how long employees are online or how many hours they put in. You should be rather bothered about if they are meeting the goals and delivering quality results. If your team is achieving strong business outcomes, there is no need to stress about the process.
Since remote work only picked up pace after COVID-19 and this skill was never taught at schools or colleges, it is quite common for team leads to find it daunting. However, just like any skill, this can also be mastered by learning from experts. If you are looking to help your corporate teams learn remote team management, look no further than EducationNest which is a leading provider of corporate training in India with expert-led courses and workshops.
- Allow Flexibility
Promoting flexibility is an important tip for leading virtual teams. Offer flexibility for your remote employees by allowing them to structure their day around personal commitments. If they are turning up for meetings on time and giving results, it is wise to avoid unnecessary restrictions.
If an employee prefers taking a midday break for a run or a parent needs time for school drop-offs, be accommodating as long as they meet their work responsibilities. Recognize that your remote team has lives outside of work, and giving them autonomy will boost their commitment and contributions to the company.
- Foster Inclusivity
Foster inclusivity in hybrid remote environments by ensuring all team members, whether in-office or remote, feel equally involved. Take that extra time to pause the meeting to allow remote participants to share their ideas. Additionally, as a manager, it is a great corporate team management strategy to actively monitor and engage with each person during larger meetings. Some employees may feel more comfortable typing their feedback rather than speaking aloud. This approach ensures everyone has a voice and feels part of the conversation, no matter where they are.
- Meet Offline
Schedule in-person meetings at least once a year, or more if possible. These gatherings are crucial for fostering a one-to-one connection and strengthening relationships. Digital platforms are only so good for reinforcing human connections. It is a great opportunity to build camaraderie and remind everyone that there is more to the team than just usernames and avatars.
- Team-Building Activities
Engaging in team games once in a while is a great strategy for leading remote teams. Don’t miss out on virtual team-building activities while waiting for in-person meetups. There are plenty of fun ways to strengthen teamwork and collaboration remotely. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Online office games
- Pictionary
- Virtual escape rooms
- Photo contests
- GIF battles
These activities will help maintain a sense of community in the long run, no matter the distance.
- Appreciation
An extremely crucial strategy for managing remote teams, recognition can quickly fade away behind those laptop screens when working remotely. Some employees might feel “unnoticed” than others more often when they are working away from the office. Hence, it is important to regularly recognize and celebrate team achievements, both large and small. Daily routines can easily become monotonous, but recognition helps break that cycle.
Consider implementing performance awards or acknowledging milestones. If someone goes above and beyond, publicly acknowledge it in broader meetings so they receive recognition from peers and leadership.
- Train Employees to Work Remotely
Provide remote work training for employees, as it is a skill that doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Virtual collaboration and maintaining healthy boundaries can be challenging. Don’t assume everyone has it mastered – offer employee training workshops for remote teams to help your team (and yourself) improve.
The best way to do this is by bringing in experts to share best practices for remote work. You can cover topics like building healthy habits, setting boundaries, and using collaboration tools effectively.
Conclusion
Managing a remote team can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can be a proud manager of a happy and productive team. Although we have discussed some strategies to manage remote teams, this is clearly not the entire list. You can actually do a lot for your team to create a supportive work environment for all.
However, the most important of all is probably getting that training done when onboarding new employees so that everyone on the team reaps the benefit. To do this, EducationNest is a leading corporate training provider offering custom-made training solutions for all kinds of corporate needs.
