Remote Work Do’s Don’ts
“The irony of virtual businesses is that managing remote/virtual teams is not a piece of cake as it looks like, yet it brings so much pride when driven correctly”
Remote/virtual teams who seem like aliens helping us out from a distant place are not just a group of individuals working collectively to achieve one goal, but are in fact the building blocks of a company they work in. Thus, they are presumed to be managed with care. And for that very purpose, project managers are the ones who are accountable at the end of the day. More than just liability, this fact also determines the level of leadership and the abilities of a project manager.
Thus, there are a thousand different ways to look at it.
How, therefore, could this be completed perfectly? Nothing is perfect, is the reply!
There are always some dos and don’ts, which, if followed will make you a king, or else you are doomed.
Here are a few?Dos:
Be resilient
“Blame game sucks success”. If we find its link back to its roots, then we come across the fear of decline, fear of consequences, and many more which drag a person to their worst. The bitter side of the story is that no one takes charge. The best way to avoid and get rid of such threats is to pinpoint the issues, be strong, take responsibility, and fix it instead of running away or relying on others which would make you weak.
Take your team on board
Lead well!?Bringing everyone on the same page is the key to the lock. Arrange meetings on a continuous basis, stay connected, keep everyone in the loop, discuss and then take the decisions. You might be the project manager, but you can’t be the master and know everything without having interaction.
Do your homework
“Dig into the details, unwind the knots, look at the broader picture, and attack”.?One can’t conquer the battles without knowledge. Knowing the history, requirements, and demands is equally as important as knowing the results of daily outcomes of the processes being carried out to achieve the milestones.
Baby-sit your team
Managing a team is just another name for babysitting where you have to know all the needs, reactions, and expectations of your team that consists of humans, not robots.?They have emotions and needs in terms of work which directly affect the proficiency and productivity of the tasks and ultimately, the project outcome if not addressed properly.
Be the Judge of the show
Conclude your tasks along with your team and report on a daily basis. It should bother you the most before the sponsor hits you hard in your head for seeing the shortcomings in the process with huge loopholes that are hard to be filled.
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How can we skip the don’ts? - Here we go!
Don’t rush
Take your time and then take the decision. Hiring an employee with a required set of skills is a critical task to avoid any inconveniences and shortcomings in the future. The same trick is applicable while taking other internal and external decisions too. To be efficient is a strength, whereas rushing can be lethal.
Don’t rely solely on others
Being a project manager makes one authoritative but doesn’t allow you to sit back watch and rely on others since if you do you get knocked down the project would be ruined. To be accountable for a project’s success, one has to be well-informed. Learning is a process one can’t master as it has no end, thus constant effort through communication, involvement, and dedication can do wonders.
Do not underestimate
“Unity is strength and doubt is the biggest poison”
Human resource/team is an asset with gifted abilities and skills. Never belittle and never doubt their skills, as motivation and support is the spice they need. For that very purpose, continuous training sessions can be life savers if there are any loopholes coming across the way and you see them clearly.
Don’t make assumptions
If we dig back, we will find assumptions of an outcome of imagination far from reality depicting that there had been huge gaps and were never given much attention. This can lead to a pathetic closure/end of a project and a tag of the bad team would be pasted over your name. It results in a decline of not one individual but the team itself and the company too.
“Be sane”
Don’t burry your team under stacks of information
“Less is more”
It can be hazardous when unnecessary information is allowed to travel down the stream. Considering that it would in some ways encourage the employees to become distracted and dubious. Maintain your attention on the team's assigned tasks. Not everyone- except the project manager- is supposed to know everything. If a project manager lacks information and the required knowledge then there would be shortcomings, delays, and the worst-case scenario, it can lead to an unsuccessful project.
Date: September 12th, 2022