How do you manage your remote team's expectations?

1 Set clear and realistic goals

One of the first steps to managing your remote team's expectations is to set clear and realistic goals for each project, task, and deadline. You can use a SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define your objectives and communicate them to your team. Make sure that everyone understands their roles, responsibilities, and deliverables, and that they align with the overall vision and strategy of the organization. You can also use tools like Asana, Trello, or Google Sheets to track your progress and keep everyone on the same page.

3 Respect boundaries and preferences

A third tip to managing your remote team's expectations is to respect their boundaries and preferences. Remote work can offer more flexibility and autonomy, but it can also blur the lines between work and life. You should respect your team's work hours, time zones, and personal commitments, and avoid contacting them outside of their availability. You should also respect their preferred styles of working, learning, and collaborating, and adapt your approach accordingly. You can use tools like Calendly, Doodle, or Slack to schedule meetings, share availability, and set status updates.

4 Provide training and resources

A fourth tip to managing your remote team's expectations is to provide them with adequate training and resources. Remote work can require different skills and competencies than in-person work, such as self-motivation, time management, digital literacy, and cross-cultural communication. You should assess your team's strengths and weaknesses, and offer them opportunities to learn and grow. You can use platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning to access online courses, webinars, or podcasts. You can also create a shared repository of documents, guides, or best practices that your team can refer to.

6 Adjust and adapt as needed

A sixth tip to managing your remote team's expectations is to adjust and adapt as needed. Remote work can be dynamic and unpredictable, and you may encounter changes, challenges, or opportunities along the way. You should be flexible and responsive to your team's needs, preferences, and situations, and modify your goals, plans, or strategies accordingly. You should also be open to learning from your mistakes, failures, or experiments, and use them as opportunities to improve. You should also review your results, outcomes, or impacts regularly, and measure them against your expectations.