In recent years, the trend of remote work has significantly increased. More and more businesses are transitioning to distributed teams, which allows them to tap into global talent and reap the benefits of remote work. However, managing a remote team presents unique challenges, and it requires businesses to implement effective strategies to build and lead successfully. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the most important strategies for managing remote teams. These strategies include setting clear goals and expectations, using effective communication tools, establishing a strong company culture, fostering trust and accountability, encouraging team building and socialization, leveraging coworking spaces and building your team of remote workers.
STRATEGY 1: SET CLEAR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS.
Setting clear goals and expectations is crucial for managing all teams. When working remotely, team members must understand their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Leaders need to establish clear guidelines for communication, deadlines, and project milestones. This ensures that everyone is on the same page, working towards the same objectives, and has accountability.
To set clear goals and expectations, leaders can use project management tools such as Trello, Asana, or Monday.com. These tools allow teams to collaborate, assign tasks, track progress, and ensure that due dates are met. (Click HERE for a list of top project management tools)
STRATEGY 2: USE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLS.
Communication is essential for managing remote teams. Without proper and often communication, remote workers can feel disconnected from the team and the company's mission. Therefore, it is crucial to use effective communication tools to keep everyone connected. There are several communication tools available that can help remote teams stay in touch, such as Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. These tools allow remote workers to collaborate in real-time, exchange information, and stay connected with the rest of the team.
sTRATEGY 3: ESTABLISH A STRONG COMPANY CULTURE.
Establishing a strong company culture is indispensable for managing remote teams. A strong company culture helps create a sense of belonging and purpose, which can boost employee morale and productivity. To establish a strong company culture, leaders need to define the company's mission, values, and goals. This helps create a sense of purpose for the team and aligns everyone towards a common goal. Additionally, leaders should encourage team members to share their ideas and opinions, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Strategy 4: Foster trust and accountability.
STrust and accountability are Integral for managing remote teams. Team members need to trust one another to work collaboratively and achieve the company's goals. Additionally, team members need to be accountable for their work and responsibilities. To foster trust and accountability, leaders can implement regular check-ins, where team members can discuss their progress and any issues they are facing. This helps create a sense of transparency and encourages team members to take ownership of their work.
STRATEGY 5: ENCOURAGE TEAM BUILDING AND SOCIALIZATION.
Working remotely can be isolating, which can negatively impact employee morale and productivity. Therefore, it is imperative to encourage team building and socialization, even in a remote setting. One way to encourage team building is to organize virtual team events, such as virtual coffee breaks, online games, or virtual happy hours. These events provide an opportunity for team members to socialize and get to know each other on a personal level.
Strategy 6: Utilize coworking spaces.
Coworking spaces are excellent solution for managing remote teams. Coworking spaces provide a physical space for remote workers to collaborate and socialize together and with other remote workers. This helps with culture and team building while allowing your business to maintain flexibility. Coworking spaces offer many benefits for managing remote teams.
- Networking Opportunities
Coworking spaces provide opportunities for remote workers to network and build relationships with other professionals in their industry. This can help remote workers stay connected with the industry and build their professional network.
- Community Building
Coworking spaces foster a sense of community among remote workers. Coworking spaces offer several amenities, such as coffee bars, lounges, and meeting rooms, which provide a space for remote workers to collaborate and socialize.
- Increased Productivity
Working from a coworking space can increase productivity by providing a dedicated workspace, free from distractions. Coworking spaces offer a professional environment that can help remote workers stay focused and motivated.
To learn more about how to get the most out of your coworking space, check out our blog “Tips for Thriving In Your Coworking Community”
Strategy 7: Finding good remote workers.
Finding good remote workers can be a challenging task, but there are strategies that can help businesses find the right talent for their team. Here are two strategies for finding good remote workers for full-time employees and contracted/freelance employees:
- Full-time employees
When hiring full-time remote employees, it is obviously important to look for candidates who possess the necessary skills and experience for the role. However, it is key to additionally look for candidates who have experience working remotely or possess the necessary traits to be successful in a remote work environment, such as self-motivation, time management, and communication skills. One way to find such people is to use online job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor. These job boards allow businesses to post job openings and search for candidates with specific skills and experience.
- Contracted/Freelance employees
When hiring contracted or freelance remote workers, it is vital to look for candidates who have a track record of delivering quality work on time. Additionally, it is important to look for candidates who possess the necessary skills and experience for the project. One strategy for finding good remote workers for contracted or freelance projects is to use online freelance marketplaces such as Upwork or Freelancer (for a list of top Freelance Market places click HERE). These platforms allow businesses to post job openings and search for freelancers with specific skills and experience.
Managing remote teams can be challenging, but with the right strategies in place, businesses can build and lead effective distributed teams. Strategies such as setting clear goals and expectations, using effective communication tools, establishing a strong company culture, fostering trust and accountability, encouraging team building and socialization, and utilizing coworking spaces can help businesses succeed in managing remote teams.
Furthermore, finding good remote workers is crucial for building a successful remote team. Strategies such as using online job boards and freelance marketplaces can help businesses find the right talent for their team. By implementing these strategies, businesses can build a successful remote team that is productive, collaborative, and motivated.
