Your Guide to Managing a Remote Team

A remote team consists of employees, often from various locations, who work together on business projects and towards overall organizational goals. New challenges arise for remote teams since they are not in-person, compared to teams that are. Some of the main struggles are based around unclear communication, building relationships, and understanding responsibilities. To equip your team with the strength to face these challenges, follow these 4 tips.

1.        Be intentional with the hiring process.

Hiring managers should hire those that are excited about remote work and are adaptable to change. It’s important that remote work is going to suit them so they can thrive on a professional and personal level. Being surrounded by others that are also motivated by remote work can make it easier to build relationships.  

2.        Be clear during the onboarding process.

A new employee’s onboarding process should be positive and informative, so they feel confident about starting their new position. Ideally, they are aware of their responsibilities and know who to contact when they have questions. By the end of their onboarding, they should feel that their decision to work for you was a good one.

3.        Devise a plan for communication.

Communication is very different without facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, making communication an inevitable struggle for remote teams. This is why appropriate means of communication should be high on the priority list. What is the best way for your team to communicate? Is it through Microsoft Teams, Slack, or a group chat? If your employees need access to any information, make sure that it is available, easy to find, and organized.

4.        Plan out your meetings.

You want to make sure you’re not overwhelming your staff with meetings. If you need to have a meeting, make sure there is a clear agenda and time limit. If your information can be shared through other means, like a video recording, email, or chat message, experiment with these alternatives to find what works best for your team.

Remote teams can be difficult to manage, but with anything, practice makes perfect. Keep learning, growing, and experimenting to develop an unbreakable team. Read more about improving your small business and more at https://www.bluluxmarketing.com/blog.