Leaders in the industry are taking a more proactive approach to workforce development and recruitment. For example, some companies hire remote employees with specialized skills to address the lack of qualified personnel.
In October, the National Association of Business Economics surveyed its members and found that over half reported a scarcity of competent workers in the third quarter of 2021. Employers feel the pinch due to a skills shortage exacerbated by the Covid-19 outbreak and an aging workforce.
In November 2021, there were more than 10.5 million job opportunities in the United States, compared to 3.8 million a decade earlier. As a result, many companies and executives are spreading their recruiting efforts outside their local areas.
Many firms are learning how to collaborate with global teams for the first time due to the continuous expansion of remote work. With this in mind, here are some recommendations to assist your firm get the most out of your collaboration with international teams.
- Know Your Team
The first step in any successful collaboration is knowing your team. Knowing your team members is an essential part of being a good leader. Whether you’re putting together a team to handle a specific project or your employees are from a remote team, this is true.
Knowing your staff is essential for getting them to do their best. This means getting to know each person’s strengths so that you can figure out how they could be used in the team. In addition, you need to make time for personal connections with your international team members.
Zoom, VoIP, and other video conferencing applications let you communicate with them from anywhere. You’ll be able to empower them to address any questions or concerns they might be reluctant to bring up in group conversations.
- Encourage Organization
A business can handle a considerable volume of work more effectively if well-organized. Conversely, a lack of organization in a company’s procedures results in a backlog of work, lost records, and wasted time. You’ll spend more time working on essential tasks if you are more organized.
You can better manage the global collaboration among your local and multinational staff when you are more organized. The first step to a successful international team collaboration is to identify the tools and platforms that will be used. Ideally, the preferred method of team communication regarding a project with a client should be determined from the beginning of the process.
You’ll be able to get more done if you have better communication with your team. Better communication leads to more positive outcomes. With new technologies like VoIP, you will be able to communicate more efficiently and clearly with everyone.
What is VoIP, or What is a VoIP phone system you ask? Simply put, it’s a technology that allows the transfer of multimedia material such as voice and audio data through IP networks, a very practical tool to utilize for maintaining effective communication within a team.
- Maintain Meeting Discipline
It’s critical to maintain discipline and adhere to best practices throughout any project, especially when working with foreign teams from diverse cultural backgrounds. Be sure you go over meeting etiquette with everyone and emphasize the importance of keeping a positive attitude throughout the meeting.
In virtual meetings, ensure everyone adheres to basic etiquettes, such as starting on time, using agendas, ending on time, and staying on topic. Make sure your staff does not develop the habit of skipping regular update meetings. Instead, stay focused and give everyone a chance to contribute without getting distracted by anything else.
- Encourage Friendships and Build Trust
Multi-site businesses have to deal with the reality that one location is frequently seen as the center of authority and decision-making. Unfortunately, this can lead to poor perceptions at other locations and the formation of a mindset of “us versus them.” Team members must be reminded that they all contribute equally to the organization’s success.
Your staff will bond and trust each other effortlessly if you take the time to get to know them and then develop a unique experience for them. Group chats can provide several opportunities for small talk and social engagement, which can help to increase shared knowledge while also fostering camaraderie and true friendships.
Respect Cultural Differences
When working together, teach your employees to respect cultural differences. Make them realize and understand that their colleagues come from many backgrounds and that this diversity affects how they interact.
Listening is the first step in successfully navigating cultural differences, and everyone must be open to discussing cultural differences and listening to one other’s perspectives.
