The Best Remote Team Management Tools (By Rockship)

So you have decided to build a remote team to scale your business. Congratulations! As a veteran of remote work, Rockship knows how rewarding it can be. But managing a team you can't see face to face every day does come with challenges. How do you keep everyone on the same page? Ensure accountability? Foster collaboration??

Don't worry, we've got you covered! Over the years, we have tested dozens of tools and picked out the best of the best for remote team management. In this article, we will share the tools our team at Rockship uses every day to stay organized, aligned, and productive. Whether you have a team of 5 or 50, these tools will help you overcome the obstacles of distance and build a highly effective remote team.

Communication Is Key: The Best Messaging Apps for Remote Teams

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful remote team. Without the ability to quickly connect with your colleagues, productivity and collaboration suffer. The good news is there are messaging apps tailor-made for remote teams.

• Slack is one of the most popular choices. Its channels, direct messages, and integration with other workplace tools make it easy to stay in touch. You can create open channels for team-wide conversations as well as private groups for specific projects. Slack’s search feature also makes it simple to find important information when you need it.
• For a minimalist option, try Twist. Its clean interface and threaded conversations help reduce notification overload. Twist focuses on calmer, more meaningful discussions by limiting alerts. It’s a great choice if you find other apps too distracting.
• Don’t forget about good old email. While not as flashy as other solutions, email works well for asynchronous communication and creates a written record of conversations. For quick questions or status updates, email is perfectly sufficient.
• Video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams also provide messaging features. If you already use one of these tools for meetings, the built-in chat functionality can work for casual communication. Some even offer channels and integrations similar to Slack.

With the array of options available, you can choose a single messaging app or use a combination to suit your team’s needs. The most important thing is that you have a way to stay in frequent contact with your remote colleagues.

Video Conferencing Tools for Daily Stand-Ups and Collaborations

When it comes to managing a remote team, video conferencing is key. You need tools that allow for daily stand-ups, collaborations, and quick chats. Here are a couple of our favorites:

• Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing tools for businesses. It's easy to use and works great for daily stand-up meetings with remote teams. You can share your screen, chat with individuals or the whole group, and record meetings.
• Google Meet is a solid free option if you're on a budget. It provides high-quality video calls for up to 250 participants so you can host team meetings, all-hands calls, and more. You can present slides, share your screen, and chat with teammates.
• For quick ad hoc chats, WhatsApp video calling is a great choice. It's free, encrypted, and allows for video calls with up to 8 people. While not ideal for larger team meetings, it's perfect for connecting with a couple of coworkers to collaborate or troubleshoot an issue.

When managing a distributed team, frequent and thoughtful communication is key. Using a mix of video conferencing tools for daily stand-ups, all-hands meetings, and casual chats will help keep your remote team engaged and connected. The options today are plentiful, so you can choose the right tools for your needs and budget. With the power of video, you can build a collaborative culture no matter where your teammates are located.

Task Management Software to Keep Your Remote Team Organized

To keep your remote team organized and on the same page, task management software is essential. Here are some of the top tools for managing workloads, deadlines, and productivity across locations.

Trello

Trello is a popular Kanban-style project management tool that helps you organize tasks into boards, lists, and cards. You can assign tasks to specific team members, set deadlines, attach files, leave comments, and more. It’s free to use and intuitive, with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Many remote teams rely on Trello to distribute work, track progress, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

• Create boards for different projects, clients, or teams
• Add lists like “To Do”, “In Progress” and “Completed” to organize tasks
• Assign teammates to cards and set deadlines to keep everyone accountable
• Leave comments, upload files and checklists to keep tasks moving forward
• See an overview of all tasks at a glance to identify any bottlenecks or blockers

Asana

Asana is another task management tool designed for teams. It provides a timeline view so you can see how tasks relate to and impact each other. Asana allows you to break down big projects into smaller milestones, set priorities, delegate work, and monitor progress from start to finish. For remote teams, Asana helps ensure work is distributed fairly and completed on schedule, even when you cannot physically meet in person.

• Create projects, tasks, subtasks, milestones, and schedules
• Assign work to individuals or groups and set due dates
• Leave comments and upload files within each task
• Get an overview of all workloads, deadlines, and task dependencies at a glance
• Receive notifications when tasks are completed, overdue, or behind schedule

Using dedicated task management software is key to keeping your remote team organized, accountable, and on the same page.

Collaboration Tools for Brainstorming

When brainstorming remotely, digital whiteboards are ideal for sharing and developing ideas. Some of the best options are:

• Miro: This collaborative whiteboard platform lets you add sticky notes, shapes, images, and more. Team members can build on each other's ideas in real time. Miro has templates for various brainstorming frameworks like SWOT analysis and mind mapping.
• Stormboard: Like Miro, Stormboard provides a digital canvas for brainstorming. It offers unique features like the ability to "heat map" your best ideas and vote on suggestions. Stormboard also integrates with Slack, Trello, and Google Drive for easy sharing of information.
• IdeaBoardz: For quick virtual brainstorming sessions, IdeaBoardz is a simple but effective tool. Multiple people can add and organize ideas on a shared digital board. You can then vote on the best concepts and export the results. IdeaBoardz works on any device with an internet connection.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the best tools to help you manage your remote team like a pro!

With the right tech stack in place, you'll be collaborating, communicating, and connecting across the miles in no time. The key is finding what works for your unique team and company culture. Don't be afraid to test a few options to get the right fit. And remember, behind every Slack message, Zoom call, and Trello card are real people. Make human connections and your remote team will thrive.?

If you need a hand figuring any of this out, give us a shout. Remote team management is our key strength over here at Rockship. We would be happy to help!