Tips for managing a remote team

| May 28, 2019
Tips for Managing a Remote Team

There are so many benefits to managing a remote team, ranging from access to global talent pool, all the way to reduced costs of running a team. Think about it, you don’t have to get a lease on an office and buy equipment. At best, you’ll have to pay for a software license (that you would probably have to pay for even in a traditional office). Other than this, you get to keep the carbon footprint fairly low, due to the fact that there will be no work commute included. All of this being said, a lot of people have trouble managing a remote team and here are several tips to help you handle this issue as efficiently as possible.

1.      Pick the right tools for the job

In a virtual office, the right tools for the job are everything. First of all, you’ll need a collaboration tool for work on major projects. Second, you need a remote access software like TeamViewer in order to help out new employees get a grip on things. Other than this, you need a piece of communication software (other than Skype, Viber, WhatsApp or Messenger) in order to create a direct line of communication with your team. The reason why we excluded the above-listed four tools is due to the fact that your employees, most likely, use them for private purposes and will, therefore, get easily distracted by them. We do not need to mention the importance of cyber security here.

2.      You can still work from the office

Even though you might find running a remote team to be convenient, even ideal for needs of your startup, the fact remains that you might still find it difficult to get accustomed to this work regimen. There are two ways in which you can deal with this and the choice is yours. First, you can construct a home office, which, although convenient, still doesn’t solve the main problem you have with remote work. This is why a lot of people opt for finding a nearby coworking space and getting themselves a desk in a proper office. Don’t be surprised if this drastically boosts your managerial skills.

3.      Set your deadlines a bit closer than necessary

Keep in mind that no matter how ironclad this system may appear, remote workers usually have a lower degree of brand loyalty. This is why you shouldn’t be surprised to find people missing their deadlines or forgetting about their tasks altogether. For this very reason, you need to take the necessary steps of precaution. You’ll always have one or two people that you can rely on, so if there’s something that absolutely has to be done by that particular date, delegate these tasks to these people. If not, try setting your deadlines a bit closer than necessary, so that you can switch tasks to someone else if these people fail to deliver.

Tips for Managing a Remote Team

4.      Start working on trust

Previously, we’ve mentioned the issue of loyalty and this is something that you’ll have to work on tirelessly if you’re to transcend the gap created by geographical distance. First of all, you need to start working on trust. If you make a commitment, make sure to keep it, especially if the payment is in question. Try to pay a day or two early in order to avoid being even a single day late. Other than this, try to have active communication with your employees and make sure to ask for necessary feedback. If there’s a pressing issue, try to address it even before being directly asked to do something.

Conclusion

As you can see, a remote team is merely a tool that can allow you to run your enterprise with somewhat greater efficiency, it is not a recipe for success or a magic formula of any kind. It’s your ability to manage it properly that will determine its success rate.

SHARE WITH: