You're managing a design team remotely. How do you keep them motivated?

1 Set clear goals and expectations

One of the first steps to motivate your design team remotely is to set clear goals and expectations for each project and task. This will help your team members understand what they need to do, why they are doing it, and how they will be evaluated. You can use tools like Asana, Trello, or Figma to create and track project plans, timelines, and deliverables. You can also use these tools to communicate with your team, assign roles and responsibilities, and provide feedback and recognition.

2 Encourage collaboration and communication

Another key factor to motivate your design team remotely is to encourage collaboration and communication among your team members and with other stakeholders. Design work is often iterative and involves multiple perspectives and inputs. You can use tools like Zoom, Slack, or Miro to facilitate virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and presentations. You can also use these tools to create a sense of community and belonging, by sharing updates, celebrating wins, and acknowledging challenges.

3 Support creativity and learning

A third way to motivate your design team remotely is to support their creativity and learning. Design work is constantly evolving and requires your team to stay updated and inspired. You can use tools like Skillshare, Udemy, or Medium to provide your team with learning opportunities, such as courses, webinars, or articles. You can also use these tools to spark their creativity, by sharing ideas, trends, or best practices. You can also encourage your team to take breaks, experiment, and have fun with their work.

4 Provide feedback and recognition

A fourth tip to motivate your design team remotely is to provide feedback and recognition for their work. Design work can be subjective and complex, and your team needs to know how they are doing and what they can improve. You can use tools like Loom, InVision, or Google Docs to give feedback on your team's work, such as comments, suggestions, or ratings. You can also use these tools to recognize your team's achievements, such as praises, rewards, or testimonials.

5 Promote autonomy and flexibility

A fifth and final way to motivate your design team remotely is to promote their autonomy and flexibility. Design work can be demanding and stressful, and your team needs to have some control and choice over their work. You can use tools like Calendly, Doodle, or Clockify to allow your team to manage their own schedules, deadlines, and workflows. You can also use these tools to respect your team's preferences, availability, and work-life balance.