The world of business is changing rapidly. Of course, a major contributing factor to this change is technology and how quickly it is being innovated. Technology has helped businesses in numerous different ways, but one of the most effective is how connected it has helped everyone be. Communicating and collaborating with your team has never been easier.
How to manage remote teams effectively (Source: Pixabay)
This has helped to increase the instance and viability of using remote teams. There are many different benefits for a company to utilize remote teams, which is why we are seeing more and more companies use them. Teams can work remotely all of the time, or companies have them work remotely a few times a week.
However, dealing with remote teams isn’t always the easiest. Managing employees or workers who aren’t physically with you or together can provide some unique challenges. Thankfully, it is possible and there are some things you can do to help.
With that in mind, this article will look at a couple of helpful tips to help manage remote teams.
Ensure They Have Full Access
While remote teams are working at home or some other location away from the office, they still need access to all software, data, and information that a company will often use. If not, they will simply not be very productive and won’t get much done.
Some companies use the cloud to ensure easy access, but this isn’t always the case. If your company doesn’t use the cloud, there are still some solutions to ensure everyone has the appropriate access to the software. Software like TeamViewer or a high-quality TeamViewer alternative can help your team offer secure remote access. There are also various other tools that your company should look to use if you plan to have or use remote teams.
Set Expectations and Make Them Clear
Set clear expectations for the remote team (Source: Pixabay)
When working in a traditional office setting, it is very easy for managers to check in on the progress of employees. A simple in-person meeting or conversation is usually all it takes in an office setting. It is also often easier for managers to set expectations in person than it is online.
As a result, it is incredibly important to set very clear expectations with those who are working remotely. If not, and they become confused or misguided, it’s not always as easy for you (or them) to recognize and fix. The better prepared and knowledgeable someone is, the better they will be able to reach the goals and expectations set for them.
Track Productivity
One of the biggest issues that may arise in remote working comes down to productivity. When employees are in an office setting, they normally have co-workers and management to help keep them at least semi-productive. If an employee is working at home or independently, it is much easier to slack off or generally be more unproductive.
Thankfully, it is possible to track productivity using a variety of tools. Some of these tools are able to track hours, see what projects are getting completed, what sites employees are visiting and more. Many can even tell you how long employees are on break. All of this can help you hold employees accountable and make sure they are working.
Also, not every employee is ready or built for remote work. When choosing or assigning those to be on a remote team, be sure they are able to work independently, and are up to the challenge.
In conclusion, hopefully, this blog post has been able to help you effectively manage remote teams at your company. It’s not always easy, but remote working could be the way of the future if implemented correctly and effectively.