Remote Teams Challenges: Advice For Managing A Remote Team
These days, many managers are finding themselves managing a remote team. This is a new challenge for many managers, and it can be trickier than managing a team with which you share a workspace.
Remote work can benefit both the business and staff, and many companies find that productivity increases, but it is not easy, and it is important that you know how to manage a remote team effectively. With this in mind, this post will offer a few handy tips to help you get the most out of your team, overcome a few common challenges, and excel in your role.
Create Remote Work Guidelines
First, you need to ensure that everyone knows the rules about remote work and what is expected of them. You should create guidelines for staff, including information on the regulations surrounding leaving their desk during the day, how to keep in touch, and protocol for arranging any time off.
Remote Teams Challenges: Encourage Autonomy
When you cannot see your team, it can be easy to imagine that they are slacking off. This can lead to managers checking in too frequently and micromanaging, which can hold staff back as well as use up your own time.
Instead, encourage your team to find their best way of working and trust them to get the job done. Many people work better remotely, and you need to give them the freedom to find their own best way of working with autonomy.
Make Yourself Available
Autonomy is helpful, but you also need to make sure you are available in case they need support. Make sure you are always available, whether by phone, video call, or email and try to find out what everyone’s preferred method of communication is, as everyone will be different.
Use The Best Communication Tools
Speaking of communication, you will find this can be challenging when everyone is working remotely. This is why you will want to utilize communication tools from specialists like Boomerang Messaging, which can streamline communication and make it easier for your entire team to stay connected.
Text, email, and voice messaging can be automated with multi-channel messaging to ensure that everyone is always up to date and on the same page.
Find Ways To Unify Your Team
One of the drawbacks of remote work is that people can often feel isolated, which can lead to disengagement. To prevent this, you will want to find ways to unify your team and keep morale high.
You can do this with informal social events (both online and offline), team-building activities, collaborative projects, and a weekly email roundup. Additionally, be sure to check in with your team to see how they are faring and if there is anything that you can help them with.
Hopefully, these tips will help you improve your remote manager abilities and get the most out of your team. Remote work can benefit all parties, but it is challenging for managers, and you need to know the best ways to manage a remote team.
