There is no particular formula company managers follow when overseeing a remote team. That is because organizations follow different processes depending on their goals and the type of workers they supervise. However, you can follow some basic strategies to help you manage a remote team effectively, including the following:
- Ensure Effective Communication between the Workers and Management
If you have all your employees working remotely, it might be a great challenge to communicate effectively with them. However, effective communication is one of the aspects that you should get right because it will influence the success of remote workers. It will also enable your team to remain motivated. Make sure you communicate with the remote team about the various happenings of the organization.
Choose software or app that the workers will understand for the communication to be effective. The remote team will also use the same platforms to communicate with the organization’s management about their completed assignments. They will also use the tools to communicate any challenges they face that might require assistance from other team members or the administration. Finally, make sure you provide enough details to avoid misinterpretation by the remote workers.
- Support and Appreciate Your Remote Team
Many people haven’t yet succeeded in transitioning from the typical office environment to a remote one. Hence, be patient with any team member facing challenges adjusting to the new working culture. If you notice that, plan a meeting with the affected individual to acknowledge their contribution to help them overcome the obstacles. You should also not set unrealistic expectations for your employees.
If you find someone who doesn’t like discussing issues in a group meeting, consider asking for feedback directly from them. It will help the individual relax as you create a constructive relationship. In addition, choose verbal communication over written communication, which might be hard to interpret.
It would also be a great idea to always appreciate your remote employees for the small and big wins they bring to the organization. You can reward them with paid holidays, a crystal globe trophy, and paid-off days. That will boost their confidence and make them enjoy working for the company.
- Plan Periodic Meetings
Having periodic virtual meetings will enable the remote employees to stay up to date with whatever happens in the organization. Organize daily or weekly meetings for every team member to attend. Ask the remote workers to let the team know their current projects, what they plan to work on next, and if they face challenges preventing them from succeeding.
If you conduct the meetings on video, be keen on their body language, facial expression, and the kind of tone they use while talking to different people. That will make the team members willing to concentrate on the on-goings of the meeting.
However, you need to know that not all remote members need to attend all regular meetings. Therefore, while managing such a team, it would be best to schedule meetings when you have something important to discuss.
- Streamline the Workflow
It is essential to organize the workflow when managing your remote employees as you would do in an office setting. For example, you can choose an effective project management system for your team to help you plan the project. It will enable you to organize the remote team’s workflow using straightforward techniques. It would also be a great idea to use document collaboration software to track your employees’ work.
- Have a Healthy Work Culture
While working in an office setting, employees get frequent moments of interaction. They do so during coffee or tea breaks, office meetings, etc. Therefore, it is essential to encourage casual interactions between your remote employees to develop a healthy working culture. Choose something that every team member can do together.
It would be best if you did this to create a setting that supports all employees and find out something that everyone enjoys participating in. For example, consider using communication tools or planning virtual team workouts for all team members to join.
Most managers have faced challenges in effectively managing their remote employees during these difficult times. However, they should develop the skill to manage their teams effectively. Although this is not something you can master overnight, you can manage your remote workers effectively using the strategies provided above. The tips will also help your remote workers become more cooperative and productive.
