8 Best Practices For Managing Remote Teams
Depending on the size of a work team, it may be challenging to get and keep everyone on the same page. Managers will have to find a middle ground that will include all team members regarding their management style, as not all employees will respond equally well to one specific management type.
Add another difficulty level to this feat—remote working team members. It could be challenging for teams to function well together under the best of circumstances, but keeping them apart and not physically around each other can contribute to many factors of productive units.
However, there are some best practices that a company can implement to make things easier for management and their teams. Below are some of these that management can consider following:
- Have Open Communication Channels
When team members know that they can go to peers or management with their concerns without feeling that they will face retribution, they can build open and honest relationships. So, unify your team through communication and set up the best way for all to get in touch. Cloud-based telephone systems could improve the quality of contacts and other methods the company can easily set up for its teams.
- Check In With Team Members Daily
Most remote workers enjoy the freedom of not having to sign into the office physically every day, but this shouldn’t exempt them from checking in with their team throughout the day. Management can communicate with each person daily to see if they have any issues they need help with or just as a show of support.
One way of subtly checking in with remote employees is asking them for feedback or input on a specific matter. When doing this, they feel included and part of the team, while the manager can see whether the team member is keeping up with the rest of the team.
- Use Technological Advances For Streamlining
Nowadays, there are many applications that a company can use to make the lives of their teams easier. For example, within the healthcare industry, the use of a specialised app for caregivers can greatly enhance communication and efficiency. These apps are designed to streamline the whole team’s tasks in person or remotely. These can include shared project management, customer relations, and calendars on which team members can record the various data so everyone can access it.
Software applications save the manager tons of time and effort, as most of them will have a function to show the progress of the team or their specific tasks. With the apps in place, managers can give their superiors feedback without being close to their team members.
- Stipulate Expectations For The Team
Workers with clear parameters between which they can complete their daily tasks will know what the company expects of them. They can then plan their day accordingly and ensure that all of their work meets the company’s standards without someone having to lean over their shoulder to remind them. It also builds trust between the team members and the company when managers don’t have to micro-manage their teams.
On the other hand, it shouldn’t be confused with leaving the team to their own devices, where there would be no structure or support. Instead, it would be best to provide the team with the freedom to show their managers that they are responsible and capable of handling daily activities.
- Monitor Output And Not Activity
Managers could drive themselves up a wall when monitoring a team member’s activity. Just because they aren’t showing up online doesn’t mean they won’t finish their daily tasks. Some remote workers find a new balance between work and home life, which may look different from the model managers are used to seeing in an office. Companies that adjust will have a better team member retention rate, even during the ‘great resignation.’
- Ensure Employees Engage With The Company
Scheduling regular sessions where all the team members can meet up in person or socialize through a video call may bring them closer. Some people may struggle with being away from their team members, but when they can interact with them now and again, they fill that social void that can improve their performance. If it isn’t possible for employees to all get together as a team, their employees can encourage the team members from the same area to lean on each other for support.
- Have A Resource Pool To Reference
People that choose a more remote option for work tend to be more responsible and self-sufficient. To assist them with this while keeping up the standard of work, companies can use a pool of resources that team members can access when needed to make them more productive on their own. These resources prevent hold-ups where managers have to sort out less severe issues instead of more significant ones, saving valuable time and effort.
- Provide Team Members With Support
Although most remote workers will need little to no daily support, there may be a few hiccups along the way that the company will have to provide support for when they arise. When team members know there will be someone on the other end to help them, they can carry on with their activities seamlessly after a quick reply from their superior.
In a fast-paced office environment, companies don’t have time to hold each employee’s hand but rather empower them to become more autonomous and develop their problem-solving skills in a safe environment.
The Final Thoughts
It is clear that remote working still makes up a large part of some companies’ culture, and those that don’t adjust to this new work model could suffer in their productivity. Although the through may seem daunting initially, managers can efficiently handle their teams as they would like if they were all in the same office. Everyone will achieve their goals by adding good practices that help them and their teams.
Keeping in touch with team members seems to positively affect their mood, engagement, and the quality of their work. It may mean that companies who invest in proper communication methods or systems like cloud telephones, among others, may reach new heights and rise above their competition.
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