How to set up remote work teams for success

?As remote work evolves into a normal practise within certain industries, it allows companies to a break down barriers for acquiring talent that is guided by location.? With this, the ability to adapt to managing remote work teams can yield significant payoffs in productivity, employee satisfaction, and global competitiveness. By embracing these changes, you can benefit from diverse talent and perspectives, build resilience, empowerment and innovation.? Visionary leadership requires adaptation and objectivity to choose and support what is best for your business and your team.???

If your business is currently functioning in a remote work environment, consider the current challenges and opportunities to improve the practise and reap the benefits.? If you have not begun, but are considering it, the following high-level steps will get you on the right path to start the process.???

Once you make the updates to this image in canva, place it here – we will use a different image for the LinkedIn post.?

Set Clear Goals:?

• Define objectives: working together with your team, align on the deliverables for both short-term tasks and long-term projects?

• Communicate: encourage questions to ensure clarity of tasks and accountabilities.? This prompts individuals who may need more details or could uncover points that should be added to your directions for the benefit of all?

Select the Right Communication Tools:?

• Identify the needs of your team and select tools that facilitate seamless communication and collaboration (e.g., Slack/Teams for messaging, Zoom/Teams for video calls, or various task management tools on the market)?

• Ensure tools are user-friendly and accessible to all team members and provide online training if required?

Establish Meetings, Deadlines and Routines:?

• Develop a consistent schedule for meetings and check-ins to maintain structure???

• daily check-ins work great for short term projects,??

• 1 to 3 check-ins per week suit longer term projects?

• Individual Connection:? Create regular one-on-one time with each team member to check in and provide individualized attention, coaching and feedback?

• Be mindful of time zone variations and utilize shared calendars and time zone conversion tools to accommodate different regions??

• Encourage team members to set their own routines and productivity preferences that align with project timelines.? This will help build empowerment and ownership?

Define a Communication Plan & Protocols:?

• Create guidelines around preferred communication methods for various scenarios (e.g., video camera on for meetings, email for formal updates, chat for quick questions and when to use ‘reply all’)?

• Develop a formal communication plan with your team that apprises the organization (or perhaps just those areas of the business where you will interact or influence) so that the messaging is consistent and supports organizational goals??

• Set expectations for responding to emails, calls, texts and confirm everyone’s availability.? This supports transparency, builds trust and reduces misunderstandings??

Foster Team Engagement:?

• Organize virtual team-building activities to enhance relationships and strengthen team dynamics?

• Encourage open dialogue and the sharing of ideas regularly to create a culture of collaboration, and innovation??

• Create social bonds by scheduling chats on topics that are unrelated to work?

Review Progress Regularly:?

• Conduct regular project status reviews to assess progress, identify challenges, potential solutions and to mitigate risks??

• Continuous Improvement: Solicit feedback from team members to improve remote work processes and adapt strategies as needed.? This approach fosters a culture of teamwork by working together to create solutions that will benefit the group, improving the remote work experience, employee satisfaction and project outcomes?

Need Help??

Our team or project management professionals are also process engineers, experts in efficiency, technology and change management. All of these skills come into play when transitioning to remote work practises.? If you need help to prepare for the new world of work, and to benefit from advanced preparation, foresight, and implementation, we have the experience to create engaged high performance teams that are all on the same page and working together to deliver solid results.?