Are you currently managing a group or team of remote workers today? It’s quite challenging, right? Especially today that remote work is heavily needed because of the current pandemic. What’s even more challenging is when you need to make sure your team is not only happy but also productive. That’s why you need to learn the basics in managing a remote working team
We have to admit, managing a team of remote workers isn’t as easy as it seems. There are times that you’ll experience complications and normal human errors during the day. So, in order to keep your team motivated and disciplined, here are the Do’s and Don’ts that you should teach them in order to be better!
The Do’s:
Here are the things that you should always do:
Be responsive and available
A delay in communication creates the perceived distance. Quick responses make it feel more like a real office environment for remote workers.
Make meetings accessible and professional
Make sure microphones and webcams work well so that everyone can communicate effectively. Invest in technology and tools for online collaboration and communication. You can even use social media apps like Facebook to connect with each other.
Establish personal connections
Take time to talk about life outside of work. This helps people feel more connected. Find out what motivates each team member.
Treat distant employees as if they were on site
Give the team as much access as possible and participate regularly.
Trust your team
There is often uncertainty as to whether the work will be completed or not, that’s why you need to trust your team!
Set up work-from-home policies for email, text messages, and calls
Let your remote employees work within a frame and adapt the structure as necessary.
Encourage remote workers to own or manage projects
Opportunities to take more responsibility and learn new skills will also motivate them to do their best work.
Provide channels for remote workers to voice their opinions
Encourage your remote employees to give their opinion. You can use online surveys, weekly question and answer sessions, and scheduled one-on-one feedback meetings.
Configure current communication channels
Encourage virtual collaboration and coffee time chats with channels on topics related to work and interests.
Establish communication guidelines
Organize weekly formal records. Set guidelines for daily needs and make sure employees understand them. This reduces inefficiency and allows for higher productivity. When in doubt, communicate too much.
Connect your goals with yours
Even against the current pandemic, COVID-19, or not: Your team is increasingly interested in learning and developing skills. That’s why you need to connect with them in order to give them the motivation to develop more skills.
Take your time for team fun
Take time for contacts that are not directly related to work, eg. These include virtual happy hours, quizzes, book clubs, and other things that keep work fun.
The Don’ts:
Changes are not always easy. Here are some things to avoid when trying to assemble the team:
Run for the meetings
Make sure that remote team members have an opportunity to contribute. It is more challenging to know when someone is trying to speak during a virtual meeting. Stop and give your remote team a chance to tune in.
Always set clear expectations
Your team needs to know precisely what you want them to do. Give detailed instructions and clarify your expectations and deadlines.
Forget about regular performance reviews
All employees need regular feedback. Regular performance reviews ensure that your team members work hard and consistently do their best work.
Micromanagement in Managing a Remote Working Team
Constant progress reports and records can backfire. Create a system that allows daily check-in but does not affect your team’s workflow.
Do not set time for communication between teams
Your team must feel connected and work together to achieve the goals. Set up regular team-wide meetings so everyone can interact.
Relying too much on the text
Chat/email tools are great for quick updates. However, a call or video call is more appropriate to discuss complex problems. If you need more than a few minutes to write something, you should make a call instead.
Bottom Line
Managing a remote work team isn’t easy, for it takes a lot of guts, patience, and determination to put it all together. So, make sure to learn from these helpful tips, and avoid mistakes as possible. Make your day super productive every day, to inspire your team, and to gain more clients along the way. Follow Jobmofy-Magazine for more news, blogs, and weekly updates!
