How to Build and Onboard Startup Remote Teams

Working remotely has become a standard practice for businesses around the world.?

Companies like Meta and Buffer have embraced remote work, allowing their employees to perform their duties from a location of their choosing beyond the traditional office setting.

A report by Explodingtopics.com predicts that by the end of 2023, 23% of professional workers will be working remotely.

And the trend is not going to stop anytime soon!

Fully remote teams are already forming, and many businesses, especially startups, are building versatile teams dispersed in different places on the planet.?

However, to manage a fully remote team effectively and achieve results, a hiring plan needs to be set in place.?

This post will discuss the stages every manager needs to prepare for when onboarding and building a team that works together, complete tasks on time, and thrives in the organization.

Building remote teams

Building a successful remote team requires careful planning, recruitment, communication, and management.

Here are the most critical points you need to be aware of when building a remote team.

Define goals and objectives?

Goals need to be set. Teams without goals may feel lost and without direction, resulting in a lack of motivation and productivity.

Steps to help define goals and objectives:

1. Determine the outcome (goal) and think about all the steps you need to take to achieve it.
2. Set measurable goals. Goals and objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable. Unspecific goals will make it harder for you to measure progress. Moreover, unclear or unspecific goals may cause confusion and disrupt the teamwork and leave your employees wondering what should they do next.
3. Make them realistic and achievable: Goals and objectives should be both challenging and achievable. Challenging goals will motivate employees to do their best and also help them develop their skills and grow in their field. On the other hand, unrealistic goals can result in a lack of motivation, increased frustration, and disappointment among the team members, which can negatively influence the whole startup.?Therefore, you must find a middle ground that will help employees develop their skills and feel productive and successful.
4. Prioritize: Determine which goals and objectives are most critical and allocate limited resources accordingly.

Create an environment for remote collaboration

For remote collaboration to be successful, you must build trust and empathy with your team members. This can be achieved through virtual social activities or one-on-one conversations that foster a sense of connection and community.?

Team members can also be encouraged to collaborate on projects and work together by promoting virtual team-building activities.?

Additionally, promoting open and transparent communication and creating a safe space for your team members can make them feel comfortable and valued.

Choose the right team members

Selecting candidates that fit within the culture and align with the startup’s values, beliefs, and practices is essential.?

An employee’s sense of belonging to a team will likely make them feel secure and productive, engaged, and committed to the company’s mission.?

A candidate who doesn’t fit the startup culture will find it challenging to adapt and feel left out of the team.

Further, it is essential to find candidates that can perform and thrive in a remote work environment because not everyone is suitable for working from home.?

By selecting candidates that are a good fit for the startup culture, both the startup and the candidate can thrive and grow.?

Establish clear expectations

Establishing clear expectations can help new team members understand their duties, help the whole team to work cohesively, reduce misunderstandings and lead to better collaboration.

It can be challenging for managers to communicate expectations effectively to new team members, particularly in remote work. Managers can provide a clear picture of the performance evaluation, schedule, and outcomes upon which they will be judged.?

Encourage team-building activities

Lack of interaction among team members can lead to feelings of isolation and can also cause the team to work uncoordinated.

Nobody wants to be left in the shadow, so to avoid this, remote teams need to engage in regular communication and collaboration.

Team-building activities can help remote team members get to know each other, talk about their interests and find out what similarities they share besides their place of work.

As an example, you can hire a team coach that will organize remote games that will allow employees to share something about themselves without feeling awkward. This will positively reflect on the workplace, as employees who might feel uncomfortable asking questions or reaching out to a colleague or manager as a result of the distance will feel more relaxed and calm.

As explained these activities foster a sense of unity, allow team members to discover similarities, and make connections and therefore function cohesively.

Onboarding Remote Teams

Onboarding new hires, especially in a remote team, might be a challenge at first.?

Many new hires feel stressed due to the uncertainty and unfamiliarity new surroundings bring.? Therefore, an onboarding hiring plan should include strategies and practices to help new hires go through the process as seamlessly and smoothly as possible.?

Here are the key points you need to be aware of when you start integrating new employees within your organization.?

Create an onboarding plan

As mentioned, an onboarding plan should ease the transition and integration of new hires in your startups. When onboarding remote employees, you must utilize technology and different tools to provide a seamless onboarding process.?

1. The onboarding plan should include an explanation of what your company stands for, your values, goals, mission, and vision. Simply, it needs to explain your company culture. You can communicate this clearly in some of the online meetings you will have with your new employees.?
2. The onboarding plan should include technical training for new employees. Provide training on any technical tools or systems the new hire will need to use in their role.
3. Provide opportunities for career development and growth. Make sure to invest in your teams’ talents and skills so you can have the best individuals on board that know the latest trends in the industry. You can achieve this by signing them up for different courses and training.
4. Product onboarding- Make sure new hires are familiarized with your startup’s product/ service and technology.?
5. Team introduction- Organize an online team introduction so the new employees can meet their colleagues.
6. Video meetings- Ensure that your camera is on to establish a sense of team belonging.?

Ensure new hires have access to all necessary information and resources

Often, businesses overlook the process of setting up emails and accounts and sharing credentials for new hires.?

This can result in startups wasting valuable time during the first days with new employees, trying to resolve technical issues, and setting up accounts.

To avoid these minor inconveniences from derailing the onboarding process, it’s crucial to ensure that these technical tasks are completed before the new hire starts.?

This will ensure a smoother and more efficient onboarding experience for the company and the new employee.

Regular check-ins

Regular check-ins are crucial in onboarding new employees, especially in remote work environments where physical presence is limited. Without in-person interaction, it can be difficult to assess the new hire’s progress and address any questions or concerns.

To overcome this challenge, scheduling regular check-in calls with the new hire at least once daily during working hours is recommended. This approach helps to build a supportive and collaborative relationship between the manager and the new hire and increases the likelihood of a successful onboarding experience.

In conclusion

Building and onboarding a remote team can be a seamless experience with proper preparation by managers. Anticipating potential challenges, clearly defining the startup culture, objectives, and goals, and creating a remote environment are vital steps to ensure a successful remote team-building process.

Additionally, by utilizing tools and platforms that support remote collaboration and communication, managers can ensure that new hires have a smooth transition and are integrated into the team culture.