Remote work is growing more and more popular. With the number of benefits that remote work brings both the company and the employee, this is understandable.
Unfortunately, it still comes with its difficulties, as managing a team working from home can hinder communication and collaboration.
Without real-life face to face communication, managers might feel like their leadership efforts fall flat, but there are ways to ensure the team is just as productive as if they were in the office.
Here is how to successfully manage a remote team.
Hire the Right People
The people who work well at home might not necessarily be the same ones who work well in the office.
The simple reason for this is some people work excellently as a team whereas others are more productive working alone.
To ensure that the people working remotely work well, focus on hiring employees that are organized, focused, and have excellent time-management skills.
Use Collaborative Tools
Without a collaborative platform, working on projects together will become far too complicated.
Instead, use an open-source alternative to Slack to ensure the whole team can communicate effectively and add their contributions swiftly.
Your team will find sharing knowledge and working together much easier no matter how far away they are stationed.
Host Video Meetings
Schedule video meetings at the beginning of each day or each week, depending on how often you need to check-in.
By doing this, you will stay on top of where everyone is at, ensuring nobody falls behind and working toward the right goals.
It also gives everyone a chance to voice concerns, provide feedback, and talk about any ideas they have.
It’s also important to schedule time for one-on-one meetings where necessary.
It means that those working remotely still get the same attention given to those in the office.
Be Clear and Concise
When it comes to managing a remote team, confusing ramblings are a big no-no.
With less time to casually discuss the goings-on, it is essential to make your points as clearly as possible.
By doing this, you make sure there is no miscommunication and that your team doesn’t end up working on something different from how you envisioned.
Get to Know Your Team Individually
Just because remote workers are not physically in the office doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to know each member individually.
It will make them feel seen and will encourage them to communicate with you more openly.
Some ways you can do this is to host more one-on-one calls to catch up with them and email regularly to check-in.
Stay Organized
Managing a remote team becomes a whole lot harder without organization.
Keep a diary and write down all your team’s projects, with the deadlines logged in clearly.
When you’re hosting meetings, it will come in handy, as you’ll know exactly where you want your team to be.
With enough dedication, effort, and open communication, you can manage a remote team just as successfully as one in the office.