Due to the pandemic situation, major workforces from almost all companies started to work remotely. Handling remote workers can be tiresome if there are no proper tools and techniques followed. However, after the pandemic, many people are still longing to stay home and work from their comfort zone. And companies are fulfilling this demand too.
In
this article, we will learn about certain Remote Management Best Practices to
follow while handling remote teams. No matter where your team member is, you
can monitor their activity and also help them to retrieve their interest in
working with your company. Managers can also implement certain best practices
to keep the team in the same thinking, unified, and bonded. Let’s see which
best practices will help the managers to manage their remote teams with ease!
Challenges of Remote working teams
Firstly, managers have to understand the factors that managing remote teams is demanding. If the team is not handled properly, it will affect the performance of the employees and ultimately the company will have to compromise with the outcome. Here are some challenges of remote working:
- Less face-to-face supervision
- Less access to information
- Homely distractions
- Social isolation
- More issues in-between the team members due to lack of communication, and many more.
To
overcome these challenges, here are eight best practices one can implement to
keep remote teams working productively.
8 Remote Management Best Practices
If
you are the one who has to manage remote teams and their tasks, here are the
best techniques you can implement in your corporate routine…
Use different technologies for remote teams management
With
today’s modern tools, managers do not have to worry about the constant
management of remote teams.
One
such tool is Slack. Slack is a cloud-based, powerful software that leverages
features like budgeting, project management, etc. It is a platform that
provides structured, secure, and organized features along with messaging
facilities for coworkers. It also includes video conferencing and calling
features. From documenting business decisions to managing software development teams effectively, one can use Slack for easy management of remote teams.
Not
only Slack but there are also many tools like Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.,
that are used for daily communication with your team. Also, platforms like
Zoom, Google Meet, etc., platforms are used to host daily meetings and
seminars. Using such technologies, you can stay in constant touch with your
team.
Daily check-ins
Daily
check-ins are overkill, but this is the key to managing the teams who are
working remotely. This can be done using email, texts, phone calls, or even a
short video conference. The video conference will be a face-to-face meeting
with the team and will give them the chance to know their manager and
understand daily tasks in depth.
Define the tasks clearly
Another
thing or factor to take care of is to ensure things that run smoothly while
working remotely is to allocate them tasks. You can ensure that the tasks that
are assigned to the team are not open-ended. Make sure that their tasks are on
point. This ultimately helps the team to work on the same goal and also reduces
the chances of going off track from the development process.
If
the project requires collaborative tasks, you can divide the tasks equally
amongst the team members and then explain them to each member in depth. If you
feel that the task is lengthy, make the necessary documentation and explain it
to the team accordingly.
Normalize flexible working hours
People
enjoy remote working mostly because they can work from their comfort zone.
Comfort generally results in a good mood and efficient and productive output of
the team. So do not take away the comfort of your team. Do not try to restrict
them from taking small breaks while working, and stay in a continuous video
conference with them throughout the day. Avoid monitoring them frequently.
These tips will make them feel comfortable and liberated and they can work at
their own pace.
Let
the team work flexibly. All that matters is that your company’s tasks are
getting done on time and without compromising the quality. If somehow you feel
that the quality of the work is not up to the mark, you can ask them to rework
and submit the final work after making the required changes.
You
can also have teams working from different time zones. You have to make sure
that you consider their time zone and availability before scheduling a meeting
or allocating them immediate tasks.
Stay in touch with them
You
have to set different plans in a month and define tasks for each member for the
next few days or weeks. But you should not forget to get back to your team
after a few weeks. You have to regularly have small talks with them. Ask them
if they have any doubts, and help them to solve the doubts if required.
Organizing a scrum meeting is a common practice that most companies follow. It is a few minutes meeting and you can talk to the whole team in sync, and it also increases the communication of the team too.
Trust your team members
It
is human psychology that causes managers to become anxious regarding monitoring
their teams. This feeling may be enhanced more when the team is practicing
remote working. However, monitoring and micromanaging every single detail will
likely result in discontent between you and your team.
The
majority of employees are unique and talented and can get the job they desire.
However, they don't appreciate constant pressure from the company and hence the
chances of them switching to another company increases. So, if you want to be a
strong leader, learn to trust your team and give them enough time to complete
the tasks allocated to them.
Make the communication transparent
If
you are handling remote teams, you must always be transparent and talk openly
with the team members. Your expectations for corporate policies, work
performance, and communication should be clear before making remote
arrangements so that all the parties start with an easy understanding of each
other.
For
instance, if the manager and the team working are in different time zones, then
both have the understanding and make clear the working policies of the company.
This way of effective and transparent communication will help your team
understand your perspective in a better way.
Concluding Words
As
companies continue to provide remote work and distributed teams, adopting
successful strategies for remote management becomes important for victory. By
establishing clear and transparent communication, fostering trust, promoting
collaboration, and giving the necessary tools and resources, leaders can create
a thriving remote work culture that maximizes productivity and engagement.
It
requires adaptability, a proactive approach, and empathy to overcome the
challenges of remote working and build strong teams. Embracing remote
management best practices not only benefits the company in terms of increased
productivity and efficiency but also empowers employees to achieve a better
work-life balance and find fulfillment in their remote roles. With these
practices in place, organizations can harness the full potential of remote work
and thrive in the digital age.