It’s hard to remember a time before we relied on mobile phones, the internet and email to conduct our daily personal business. Likewise many companies, keen to expand and build new business globally, are reaping the benefits of having offices located at worldwide locations which rely on these technologies. However, it would be foolish to ignore the ‘human’ side of the business and clever employers can manage remote teams effectively by placing importance on both the personal touch and technology.
Remote working challenges and tips to overcome them
Working with remote teams over several locations and time zones, often with their own local customs and regulations, is by no means easy. However, the benefits of being open minded to remote team working far outweigh the challenges and it would be short sighted not to employ the right people for the job just because of their location. The following tips will help to ensure a happy and productive workforce wherever they are:
Construct a solid foundation built on mutual trust and respect
Team members need to trust each other to be able to share information and work together. Make sure all teams are aware of common aims and that their own personal work goals contribute towards the corporate strategy. All the technology in the world can’t fix a fractured and unhappy team.
Good communication – face to face and real time
No one expects you to be able to speak to every employee every day and this is especially true if you work on the other side of the world and in conflicting time zones. However, with technology today there’s no reason why regular team updates and one to one meetings can’t be held on a regular basis. Instant messaging allows real time chat for quick questions and general catch up whilst video calling goes one step further and allows you to speak face to face. Make the effort to schedule a weekly video call with your remote teams to show that out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind. Always conduct personal appraisals this way if travelling to meet each other is not an option – make your employee feel important.
Set defined tasks and responsibilities and share information
Everyone needs to know what their role is within an organization. Delegation of tasks and project management can be handled effectively via email and shared online packages that allow team members to access information remotely via the internet. Encourage teams to populate their own online information pages to share news and successes or to ask for advice and solutions to problems.
One is not a team
Where possible always have a remote team of two or more. Not only will this stop an employee becoming isolated, it gives them another person to bounce ideas off and problem solve with. We’ve all experienced times when the office is like a ghost ship with lots of staff on holiday and welcomed their return despite initially enjoying the peace and quiet.
Interestingly recent research published on the Harvard Business School website shows that remote teams often work better than colleagues in the same office. Often co-workers become complacent and take communication for granted, unlike remote teams who make more of an effort to keep in touch and are keen to make use of new technological tools.
About the Author:
Liam McClure writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
