The current pandemic brought about the need to shift to work from home. Even as the situation eases, many companies still employ remote working due to its benefits.
The same basic principles vital when managing a team in person are even more critical to maintain when managing a team from afar. No matter where employees work, managers worldwide must ensure that they are always understood, listened to, and guided.
Managing a remote team is no easy task, especially for managers who must deal with a slew of issues in technology. You’ll always have an opportunity for development, no matter how fresh you are to this notion or how much you’ve been doing it for a while.
To secure maximum production and less chaos in managing your remote workforce, here are some tips to bear in mind:
1. Be Open For Sources Of Communication
Even if you don’t think you have anything to say, it’s more crucial than ever to set up meetings and maintain open lines of communication. Since you are not physically together, the partnerships and insights that emerge from workplace interactions should not be lost.
Meetings allow you to have a conversation with your team members regularly, whether weekly with multiple teams or just with one team member daily. You can achieve this by using online video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meets, or even Microsoft Teams.
2. Embrace Technology
Video conferencing, as previously noted, is one of the most valuable tools for working remotely to connect with your employees. With this, remote workers can catch up and communicate with one another in real-time, from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s the next best thing to on-site meetings.
Embracing technology and adopting tools like project management software can go a long way in building strong relationships and favorable work culture for your employees. Additionally, you can track employee performance with such software. You can get IT services in San Antonio for your software or cloud-related technology needs. Such services can help you streamline your operations and produce optimal results.
Social interaction is made more accessible by such technologies. This allows team members to have a broader picture of work processes. It also allows you to assist them when they’re having job-related issues.
3. Set Boundaries
Setting clear boundaries is the first step in managing any team, whether remote or regular. While each individual may have their own set of duties, the whole team requires a set of rules to keep everyone on the same page. And it’s common for remote teams to need some form of dividing line between their job and personal lives.
Because the team members work from various time zones, any notifications such as work emails that come in throughout the night might disrupt someone’s sleep or family time. Respect each team member’s time and show them that you value their time by setting effective work schedules with them.
4. Track Progress
It’s essential to track your employees’ performance to help you focus on achieving the company’s objectives. Tracking enables you to spot any hindrances in job quality, make changes, and assist one another in accomplishing their tasks. It can also assist you in setting more realistic goals.
You can make use of time tracking software to monitor their performance. You may also require your employees to do self-reporting on their task progress.
While managing remote teams, it is your responsibility to guarantee that there is no break in communication and work progress. Remember, your total business growth is influenced by the performance of your remote team members.
5. Offer Support
As a manager, you should be highly concerned about your team’s mental health as they will produce better results if they are in good health and feel supported. You may conduct one on one calls with your employees monthly to see how they’re doing and discuss their work performance. This can help lessen their stress at work.
Some of your workers may be going through a difficult time in their lives and are caught between addressing their problems and retaining their positions. Providing them with the best possible support in any way is critical because if this is not dealt with quickly and effectively, it might cause them to perform poorly or quit.
- Reward Your Team Members
You may award your team based on their performance. For instance, you can give out an employee of the month award. As a result, team members will be motivated to perform well, benefiting your company in the process.
Rewarding the accomplishments of your staff may be a very effective way to keep them inspired and focused on the company’s success. Financial awards and non-monetary incentives give recognition and appreciation for employees who have worked hard.
Take Away
For several reasons, working from home has become the new normal. When it comes to working remotely, there are numerous methods to overcome obstacles. Still, the ideal approach to manage a remote team is to use technology to develop trust, encourage communication, and track performance.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
