What are the most common challenges of managing a team in a virtual environment?

When I think about managing teams in virtual environments, the number one item that clicks my mind is “communication”. Losing sight of things is pretty common when you do not have in-person check ins. However, these issues/ challenges can be swiftly mitigated/ controlled by clear and actionable communication style. Having said that, having reasonable as well as actionable next steps become the crucial aspects. 1. Promote high frequency virtual check-ins (as time and resource permits) 2. Promote shared document with list of actionable and keep syncing the updates. 3. Respect other time members priorities, commitments, and communication style.

This could be more challenging when everyone works remotely. Technical glitches and other technology related challenges can disrupt workflow and communication. Working across different time zones can also lead to delay in responses.

When working in a virtual environment, it's important that senior colleagues (whether managers or individuals) make conscious efforts to show when and how they are available to assist junior teammates, when needed. I've seen many situations where newer hires will be afraid to reach out asking for help as they assume those above them are "too busy" and "I'd be bothering them" even if just asking for a quick 30-second confirmation. Transparency is key to enabling everyone in the team to feel comfortable in raising their hand to say they need a second set of eyes.

I've noticed that team leaders tend to discourage the use of Teams and other group chat platforms for anything other than strictly work-related topics. This is a lost opportunity! Modeling informal engagement over chat is a great way to help your team connect and get to know one another organically, much like they would in an office setting. Use reaction gifs, tell funny anecdotes about family or pets, and call in teammates for contributions that might otherwise go unnoticed. Of course, this includes modeling sensitivity to others' feelings and to the needs of the business. Some jokes, teasing, and observations don't need to be made in writing OR out loud. But with the right leverage, engagement through text can be just as engaging as live!

This can be very challenging especially with teams in different time zones. I have been engaged in a team with members from a variety of zones spanning up to 12+ hrs different, though with compromise, we get to meet at an agreed time suitable for all, however, on the flip side, that may be exhausting and having to take away family time or social time to some members. In some cases having some members work longer hrs just to meet up. To have a better balanced team and avoid conflict, I always suggest less meetings and encourage more collaboration via emails, group chats that can be responded to in a reasonable time

Game mechanics are another tactic to boost engagement and morale, and these can be added to almost any communication or task at low cost to the business. Think of a progress bar at the top of the page to let the user know how much of a survey they have completed. Face time with leaders and decision-makers to share ideas on how to improve business practices can be a reward to high-performing frontline employees that also benefits the business itself. Reward points and incentives should be explicitly tied to completing tasks that are perhaps boring but important, like security surveys. Time and accuracy challenges can make routine jobs more engaging. Just because it's play doesn't mean it isn't productive!

Another common issue in managing a team in a virtual environment is Performance Evaluation. Assessing individual & team performance may be more complex in a virtual setting. To overcome this, it is highly recommended that team leads & managers establish clear performance metrics, provide regular feedback & leverage technology to measure productivity accurately. Working remotely can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Team leads are encouraged to foster a sense of belonging by organizing fun virtual social events, promoting team collaboration & encouraging open communication and support. By implementing these strategies, leaders can mitigate the challenges & optimize team performance in the virtual environment.