Since the pandemic, remote working has been an acceptable working method for most firms, with a growing number of companies joining in. Managers can improve the management and supervision of their remote teams by following the simple guidelines outlined in this article. Having a remote team has certain challenges, which we will also discuss.

Challenges with Remote Work

To manage remote teams well, managers need to be aware of the challenges they may face. If they understand these challenges, they will have a better idea of how to manage remote teams.

There is no face-to-face interaction or monitoring

It is easier to communicate with and oversee teams that you see since you have a better idea of what has to be done and how to proceed. However, in a distant context, obtaining an optimal connection might be difficult because determining what has to be accomplished can take a while. This is why managers must strive to communicate clearly at all times.

Poorly specified goals and boundaries

It is easier to express expectations and boundaries to every member of a team in an on-site work environment because there are regular meetings and the ability to engage with teammates quickly.

Loneliness and isolation

Most people find remote work enjoyable and interesting at first. However, for some employees, particularly those who are new to the concept, it may become monotonous and isolating over time. Staff may feel let out and bored if this is not effectively managed, which can lead to a lack of productivity and illnesses.

At-home distractions

The vast majority of people who work remotely do so from the comfort of their own homes. This can be distracting for some people since they may need to respond to a family member or their pet who requires assistance, or they may be on the lookout for one or more packages from the delivery company.

Ways to Manage Your Remote Teams

Establish clear communication guidelines

When you work remotely, it is easy to let communication slip, and your team operates fairly independently. That is, however, exactly what you want to avoid. You must work hard to establish a virtual team presence where everyone feels at ease. As a manager, the use of communication tools such as emails and other communication apps can help make a difference. Clear communication is the bedrock of any successful remote team.

In establishing clear communication guidelines, it is important that you, as a manager, understand your responsibility in applying the company’s regulations fairly and consistently. By doing this, you better place your team to ensure everyone knows the overall purpose and their role in achieving success. This is the bedrock of high performance for remote teams.

Enhance Your Onboarding Procedures

Imagine how tough successful onboarding is in a remote context if you think effective onboarding is challenging when individuals are in proximity. One aspect that cannot be overstated is the need to clarify expectations during the remote work onboarding process. For the first time, some new teammates may be working remotely. This will reduce their anxiety about what is expected of them. For best productivity and retention, the onboarding process must be constantly updated and reworked.

Setting your team up for success by providing them with the necessary materials is an important aspect of the onboarding process. Many remote teams now require new laptops, improved WiFi, and cutting-edge technologies like headsets and webcams. This may imply reallocating already constrained funding to important tools.

Encourage team collaboration

Finding avenues for collaboration is one way for you, as the manager, to encourage employees to get to know one another and feel less isolated and lonely. Instead of having one employee work on a single project on their own, discover how to have remote workers complete projects in small teams.

You could wish to invest in some collaboration software products, especially good or remote ones, such as Zoho Projects and Workdrive, to make that process easier and more enjoyable.

Encouragement of physical and social gatherings

Just because employees work remotely does not indicate they cannot meet in person if the occasion arises, engage in fun activities, or carve out time during already scheduled meetings for non-work-related discussions and activities.

One strategy to encourage physical meetings is to host summits when everyone gathers in the same location or to attend industry events where your teams can be present and meet on occasion.

Conclusion

Remote working at this scale requires new and innovative approaches and digital transformation, which has made it easier to handle growing technology and procedures. Adopting new business tools may take your team months to master, but with sufficient training and resources, they will get better with time.

If you need help managing your remote teams with the right tools for your business, please get in touch with us.