Managing a team remotely can be challenging, but also rewarding if you know how to do it effectively. Remote teams have different needs and expectations than co-located ones, and you need to adapt your leadership style accordingly. In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices on how to manage a remote team successfully.
One of the first steps to manage a remote team is to establish clear and realistic goals and expectations for each team member and the whole team. This will help you align your vision, communicate your priorities, and measure your progress. You can use tools like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define your goals and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track your outcomes. Make sure you communicate your goals and expectations regularly and provide feedback and recognition along the way.
Another key aspect of managing a remote team is to build trust and rapport among your team members and with yourself. Trust is essential for collaboration, innovation, and productivity, and it can be harder to establish and maintain in a virtual environment. You can build trust and rapport by being transparent, consistent, and supportive, as well as by creating opportunities for social interaction and personal connection. For example, you can schedule regular check-ins, share updates and achievements, celebrate milestones and birthdays, and organize virtual team-building activities.
If part of the team is remote, and the rest is in the same office space, it's critical that all members of the team are treated as equals during team meetings. This means that when you're having a ZOOM (or equivalent) meeting for the team, everyone in the meeting, even though they may be in the same room as others, is on their own camera, occupying their own square in the ZOOM attendees list. This also means that everyone in the meeting is on video while the meeting is happening; no one gets to mail it in by hiding behind an avatar instead of a live feed of themselves.
Managing a remote team also requires using the right tools and platforms to facilitate communication, collaboration, and coordination. You need to choose the tools and platforms that suit your team's needs, preferences, and culture, and that are easy to use and secure. Some of the common tools and platforms that remote teams use are video conferencing software, instant messaging apps, project management systems, cloud storage services, and online learning platforms. You also need to establish some guidelines and norms on how to use these tools and platforms effectively and respectfully.
Agile methodology tools such as an online Kanban board are essential in tracking team progress and identify blockers in workflow. Kanban boards provide a visual representation of the overall progress of a team especially when working remotely. Some task management software such as Clickup and Bitrix24 not only provide Kanban boards but also integrate cloud storage, instant messaging apps and other collaborative tools.
One of the benefits of working remotely is that you can have more flexibility and autonomy over your work schedule, location, and style. However, this also means that you need to respect and accommodate the different preferences and circumstances of your team members. You can encourage flexibility and autonomy by setting clear boundaries, expectations, and deadlines, but also by allowing your team members to choose when, where, and how they work best. You also need to trust your team members to manage their own time and tasks, and avoid micromanaging or overloading them.
Since 2006, I've managed remote teams, finding that empowering them with autonomy yields the best results. This involves trust and clear communication, setting clear goals, but allowing the team the freedom to achieve these in their own way. Regular virtual check-ins and using collaborative tools have also been key. By fostering an environment of trust and responsibility, the team feels more invested and capable of innovative solutions.
Managing a remote team also involves promoting learning and development for yourself and your team members. Working remotely can pose some challenges and opportunities for learning new skills, tools, and methods, and you need to support your team's growth and development. You can promote learning and development by providing regular feedback, coaching, and mentoring, as well as by offering access to online courses, webinars, podcasts, and other resources. You also need to encourage your team members to share their knowledge, insights, and best practices with each other.
Finally, managing a remote team also means fostering a positive culture that reflects your team's values, vision, and identity. A positive culture can help your team feel connected, engaged, and motivated, and it can also enhance your team's performance and well-being. You can foster a positive culture by defining and communicating your team's mission, vision, and values, as well as by celebrating your team's diversity, achievements, and feedback. You also need to model and reinforce the behaviors and attitudes that you want to see in your team, such as respect, collaboration, and innovation.
In multinationals and corporations, hybrid work patterns were common long before the pandemic. Frankly, it's not a big deal - it's about skills and attitude. Can you consider remote work in your HR processes? Please ensure that candidates are willing to work remotely and gain the necessary skills.