5 Science-Backed Tips to Manage Your Remote Team Effectively
The digital revolution has done a lot for the modern workplace. Whether its project management, team communication, performance evaluation, or client invoicing, it has been offering tools and resources that have helped teams to become more organized and work more productively. Moreover, it has given rise to a remote work culture where employees get the flexibility to manage work from virtually anywhere.
According to Gallup’s State of the American Workplace Report — an increasing number of companies are getting attracted to remote work culture and are looking forward to incorporating remote employees into their staff.
Now, in a lot of ways, having talented freelancers and remote employees’ in the team have helped companies to expand their reach in the industry. It has provided businesses with the opportunity to reduce overhead costs, lower employee turnover, and most importantly, improve their overall productivity and efficiency. But at the same time, working with a remote team has its own unique challenges. When managed badly, remote teams can do more damage than good, especially to an organization’s name and reputation.
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Since remote teams have a crucial role to play in the future of the workplace, every business owner and project manager needs to know how to embrace and better manage remote teams. Now, to give these owners and managers some guidance, we’ve highlighted a few strategies that have been proven by science to run a successful remote team.
Do you work with a remote team to help run your business? Follow these 5 science-backed tips to reap the benefits of managing a remote team.
Connect their goals with yours
Its a proven fact that today’s workforce is more interested in self-development and learning rather than stability. Those days are long gone when employees used to work for years for the same company. Today, employees are continuously looking for opportunities where they can become a better version of themselves, both professionally and financially. Now, this is why it is important that your organization’s goals connected to those of your remote teams. Take a personal interest in your team’s learning and development. Try to connect their life goals and be interested in the goals of the company. Doing this will help to ensure that your remote team’s engagement and performance stay as high as possible.
Make your expectations clear
We all have our own definition of doing things “well” and “quickly”. And at times, it becomes difficult to keep everyone on the same page regarding the hopes and expectations in a project, especially remote teams. So, what you need to do is make sure everyone understands what you expect them to do and how they need to go about it. Remember, the better they understand their responsibilities, the better they can perform.
Treat your remote team as local
Never treat your remote people any differently from how you treat your local people. Give your remote teams equal power and position in the company. Remember, just because you don’t see these people in your office premises, doesn’t mean that they are not a part of your team. Provide them with equal access and don’t let them feel distant. If they have any questions or issues, respond to them as quickly as possible.
Make it easy to communicate and collaborate
This is probably the most important and the most obvious tip to effectively manage a remote team. When an employee gets hired (remote or local), the best way to tell him/her about how to do a job the right way is through effective team communication. You need to make it easier for them to communicate and collaborate within the workspace. If you skip this step, you’ll end up leaving your team confused, at no fault of their own.
Use technology to develop clear processes
If your remote teams are struggling to access business-critical files, track their progress, evaluate their performance or communicate with you, you have failed to address the basics of remote team management. First and foremost, invest in project management and team collaboration tool that address every single need of your remote team members. Use that tool to create a clear work process where remote employees can work in their own productive way.
In conclusion
Having freelancers or remote workers in your team can lead to only two possible outcomes. One, it can turn into a communication disaster. Two, it can skyrocket profit and productivity for your business. Now, with the above science-backed remote team management tips, you can conveniently increase your chances for the latter. Just keep these tips in mind when you start hiring or managing a remote team and you’ll hustle way to success.
Have fun!
Also Read:
10 Steps To Streamline Work Process And Improve Workflow
Too Many Meetings, No Result? Here’s The Solution!
A Project Manager’s Recommendations for Successful Project Completion
