Leading In The Digital Age: 8 Strategies To Manage A Remote Team
The Covid-19 pandemic forced companies to adapt to the work-from-home mode of working. But even after 3 years, we see more and more businesses giving 50-100% remote working options to their employees.
A survey done by Flexjobs showed 65% of remote workers were more productive working from home rather than in a traditional office setting.
This has brought about new opportunities for businesses to expand their operations and reach new markets.?
But on the other hand, it has also created a need for new management strategies to ensure that teams working remotely keep working smoothly and efficiently.
If you are a manager struggling to manage your remote team, this blog post is for you! We have shared all the necessary strategies that will help you manage your virtual team without any problem – so let’s get started!
1. Develop a Communication Plan:
Effective communication is key to building trust and keeping everyone on the same page. Without regular communication, remote teams can quickly become disconnected which leads to missed deadlines, misaligned goals, and decreased productivity.
We don’t want that, do we?
So, developing a communication plan is a necessity for this mode of working. Some important questions to ask in this regard are:
Establish a schedule for regular check-ins and updates. This could be short daily meetings, a weekly team call, or a monthly progress report.?
Whatever the frequency, make sure that everyone on your team is aware of the schedule and committed to attending.
2. Use the Right Tools and Technology:
Without using the latest tools – you can not manage a remote team or any team for that matter.
Using the right tools and technology ensures that your team stays connected and updated at all times.
Here are some important management and communication tools for remote teams:
One of the most important tools is a project management system. This allows you to track progress, assign tasks, and monitor deadlines. Popular project management systems include Trello, Asana, and Basecamp.
Video conferencing software like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet are great options for team meetings and one-on-one check-ins. Instant messaging platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams are great for quick and informal communication.
This can help you monitor your team's productivity and ensure that everyone is working the appropriate amount of hours. Popular time tracking tools include Toggl, Harvest, and Clockify.
3. Emphasise a work life balance
One of the challenges of managing a remote team is to ensure that everyone maintains a healthy work-life balance.?
Without the structure of a traditional office environment, it can be easy for your workers to feel like they are "always on" and struggle to separate work from their personal lives. But as their team manager, it's important to prioritise work-life balance and help your team achieve it too.
To emphasise work-life balance, you should:
The biggest benefits of remote work is the ability to work around other commitments, such as family obligations or personal hobbies – so you also need to be flexible with their schedule.?
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4. Set clear goals
Setting clear goals and expectations is essential for managing a remote team effectively. When everyone on your team understands what they are working towards and what is expected of them, it's easier to stay focused and on track.
Make sure that everyone on your team aligns with these goals and has a clear understanding of what they are responsible for.
5. Provide training for your team
Without the benefit of in-person and informal learning that happens in the office, remote workers may need extra support to get up to speed on new tools, software, or processes.
Once you have identified areas where they might need help, create a training plan that outlines the skills and knowledge your team needs to develop.
Creating a course or webinar is also a smart way you can use. There are many resources available online that offer training in a variety of areas, from technical skills to soft skills like communication and leadership which they can take advantage of!
6. Monitor performance and progress:
Checking your team’s performance is crucial to keep the needle moving. Without? in-person interactions, it can be challenging to tell whether they are making progress towards their goals or not.
Start by setting clear metrics that you can use to measure their progress. This could include:?
It's important to provide regular feedback too. This includes either weekly or monthly check-ins to discuss progress, provide feedback, and identify areas for improvement. Just make sure that you are clear and specific in your feedback, and be open to hearing feedback from your team as well.
7. Establish clear policies
Everyone in a remote team works on different schedules. Due to this reason, having a clear set of guidelines is crucial.
You need to set policies that outline the expectations and responsibilities of everyone on the team.
It is also important to understand that remote work can be unpredictable, and it's important to be open to adjusting your work policies as needed to ensure that they are relevant.
8. Encourage collaboration
Promoting teamwork is essential for the success of any team. When most of your team members are working in different locations, it can be easy for them to feel isolated or disconnected from one another.?
By creating a culture of collaboration, you can help them feel more connected and engaged with their work.
To encourage this, you can create opportunities for them to interact with one another. This could include:
Encourage your team members to share ideas, offer feedback, and collaborate on projects as much as possible.
Conclusion
Managing a remote team is a challenging job. But, with the right strategies in place, it is possible to create a high-performing team that can achieve great things – no matter where they are working from.
As a leader, it's important to stay flexible and adaptable, and to be open to adjusting your strategies as needed to ensure that they are effective. With the right approach, you can create a culture of trust and collaboration that enables your remote team members to achieve their goals and deliver high-quality work!