9 Best Practices To Manage A Remote Team Successfully

“Surveys found that 80 percent of employees prefer to work from home at least some time,” Global Workplace Analytics, research, and consultancy firm. According to the same group, up to 30% of the global workforce will be working from home several days a week by 2021.

Managers who find themselves in charge of managing remote personnel may feel as if they’ve been thrown into the deep end. Managing virtual teams does, in fact, need specific special considerations. As a manager, you won’t just go about your business as usual.

9 Best Practices To Manage A Remote Team

To assist managers in navigating a new normal, we’ve compiled a list of 9 strategies for successfully managing remote staff.

Setup Responsibilities

As a manager, you must first understand what is required of you in a changing environment before attempting to discern what is expected of others. Your unique circumstances will determine this.

In a rapidly changing environment, you must be able to adapt your management style to fit the needs of your team. You must also communicate effectively with your team and keep them updated on changes. Additionally, you must be able to delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members so that they can be successful.

It is also essential to set up systems and processes that will help your team to be successful in a changing environment. This may include creating a flexible work schedule, setting up a system for tracking changes, and providing training and resources for your team. 

Finally, you must be prepared to adjust your expectations of your team members as the environment changes. This may mean understanding mistakes, being more flexible with deadlines, or providing more support as team members learn new skills.

Prioritize Communication

When team members work in the exact location as the manager, it is simple for an employee to stroll into the boss’s office and ask a question. When you work remotely, your coworkers may not always know where you are at any one time. As a result, you’ll want to be explicit about how you’ll maintain the lines of communication open and eliminate any obstacles to contact. 

Set up a system for regular check-ins, whether by setting up weekly video calls or daily written updates. The key is to ensure that everyone on the team knows when and how to reach out to you.

Web meeting platforms like Neomeet can be an excellent option in this process. This virtual meeting platform has features like secure data sharing, voting, and file sharing that will make the communication both secure and effective.

In addition, be clear about your expectations for communication. For example, if you need your team to give you a heads-up before they leave for the day, make that known from the start. You might also want to set up specific times when your team can reach you for urgent questions.

A Project Management Tool Go A Long Way

As the number of remote teams has grown, so have many project management software options available. The benefit of using a project management tool is that it gives a central location where all team members can establish where a project is in its development. 

A project management tool can go a long way in helping to keep a remote team organized and on track. It can provide a central location where all team members can see where a project is in its development. It can also help keep communication channels open and allow team members to collaborate on tasks.

Various project management software options are available, so it is essential to find one that will work best for your team. Be sure to consider the most important features to you and your team, and look for a tool that is easy to use and offers a free trial period. 

The bottom line is that a project management tool can be a valuable asset for a remote team. It can help keep the team organized and on track and provide a central location for communication and collaboration.

Create a Routine

When you work in an office, specific cues tell you it’s time to start working. Maybe it’s the sound of your coworker’s chair scraping the floor as they sit down at their desk. Perhaps it’s the sound of the coffee machine brewing in the kitchen.

When you work remotely, it can be harder to establish those cues. As a result, it can be easy to let work bleed into your personal life. 

It’s essential to establish a routine. Get dressed for work, and even sit at your kitchen table. Set regular hours and take breaks at the same time each day. Close your laptop and walk away from your work area.

Doing these things can help you create a healthy boundary between work and home.

Encourage Feedback

It can be easy to feel isolated when you work remotely. As a manager, it’s essential to make an effort to connect with your team members and get their feedback.

One way to do this is to schedule regular one-on-one meetings. These meetings give you a chance to catch up on what’s going on in your team member’s life and work. They also allow your team members to share their thoughts and feelings about their work.

It’s also important to encourage your team members to give you feedback about your performance. This can be done through regular performance reviews or by simply asking for feedback regularly.

Make an Effort to Connect

When you work remotely, it’s easy to feel like you’re not part of the team. As a manager, it’s vital to make an effort to connect with your team members.

One way to do this is to schedule regular one-on-one meetings. These meetings give you a chance to catch up on what’s going on in your team member’s life and work. They also allow your team members to share their thoughts and feelings about their work.

It’s also important to encourage your team members to connect. This can be done by setting up regular team-building activities or promoting social interaction during team meetings.

Keep Space For Social Interactions

According to Jonathan Kanter, a professor at the University of Washington, the social isolation created by social distancing tactics may have long-term negative consequences. Such results demonstrate the value of sustaining social connections. 

The activities that bring us enjoyment are often rooted in social interactions. Whether playing games, going to concerts, or just grabbing coffee with friends, these activities help us feel connected to others. When we’re socially isolated, we can miss out on significant opportunities for social bonding.

One way to combat this is to set aside time each day for social interactions, even if they’re just brief check-ins with friends or family members. If you’re feeling isolated, reach out to others and let them know. Chances are, they’re feeling the same way. 

Be Flexible

When you manage a remote team, it’s essential to be flexible. This means being willing to adjust your schedule to accommodate the needs of your team members. It also means letting your team members work from different locations.

Of course, there are limits to how flexible you can be. You can’t, for example, allow your team members to work whenever they want. But as long as you’re willing to be flexible within reason, your team will appreciate it.

Trust Your Team

When you manage a remote team, it’s essential to trust your team members. This means giving them the freedom to work independently and make decisions independently.

Of course, you can’t just give your team members free rein. You need to set clear expectations and guidelines. But as long as you trust your team members to do their jobs, they will likely exceed your expectations. 

Conclusion

When you manage a remote team, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to prioritize communication. This means setting up regular check-ins and being clear about your expectations for communication.

Second, you need to create a routine. This will help you establish healthy boundaries between work and home. Third, you need to encourage feedback. This will help you stay connected with your team members and get their input.

Finally, you need to be flexible. This means being willing to adjust your schedule to accommodate the needs of your team members.