Table of contents:
- What is Remote Management?
- The Importance of Managing Fast-Scaling Remote Teams
- How To Build a Remote Team That Works Well? Expert Opinion
- Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams
- Potential Risks and Solutions in Remote Management
- To Sum Up
- FAQs
Today, remote team management is becoming the most critical solution for IT companies. According to Upwork, by 2025, an estimated 32.6 million Americans will be working remotely, which equates to about 22% of the workforce. This means that remote workers and entire teams can function efficiently and less demanding than the in-office model.
Addressing Frequent Remote-Teams Concerns Through This Article:
- How do you manage remote teams?
- What are the best practices for managing remote teams?
However, companies face several risks when managing teams, such as quality control issues, culture differences, and communication breakdowns. To safeguard against potential challenges, we recommend you become acquainted with the following solutions through this article. Let's start!
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What is Remote Team Management?
Team management is a formula of strategies, tools, and techniques designed to effectively manage remote teams that work together from different locations and countries.
It can help managers facilitate regular check-ins, adapt leadership styles to suit the virtual environment, and create an inclusive atmosphere that supports every team member's success.
Here are some of the commonly used models in remote team management:
Fully Remote (Distributed Teams)
In this model, all teams work separately in different locations, time zones, and even cultures;
Hybrid (Flexible) Work Model
This model allows specialists to visit offices and at least work from home;
Remote-First
This model assumes that the company prioritizes managing a remote workforce first approach to work. Critical communications often occur in the office; all employees must visit and work remotely. Continue reading if you want to learn more about how to manage engineers effectively.
Hub-and-Spoke Model
In this model, the central office (hub) is critical in concentrating the company's primary functions. Remote employees and small offices (spokes) are distributed across different locations;
Nomadic Model
In this adaptive model, employees can work from any location, often traveling in parallel with their responsibilities. This is particularly common in roles and areas where work requires maximum autonomy and face-to-face communication plays a minor role;
ROWA (Results Only Work Environment)
This is not a familiar model because ROWE is about results and productivity. It is usually used in remote environments.
This model's implementation at its core allows companies to lead a specialist or even the whole team remotely.
The Importance of Managing Remote Employees and Fast-Scaling Remote Teams
Starting with the COVID-19 disease, when large IT organizations moved to a remote business format because of the worldwide quarantine, companies have been exploring techniques, strategies, and tools that will help them better organize work processes and even save on their budgets.
Moreover, Deloitte studies show that companies with inclusive remote environments that promote cultural awareness experience 2.3 times higher cash flow per employee than their less diverse counterparts.
This point that shift was not just about maintaining productivity; it represented a move towards more flexible and inclusive work environments nurtured by technological advancements and a changing organizational culture.
How To Build a Remote Team That Works Well? Expert Opinion
David Seidman, Former of Detection:
My team operates 5 locations in 4 time zones, 24x7. Here's what I've learned when discussing how to manage a remote team:
- Have daily status syncs that everyone attends. They can be short, but everyone needs to see everyone else every day physically;
- Videoconference for everything. The setup needs to be flawless, or people won't use it;
- Each site should have self-contained projects. It's too hard to coordinate very closely across regions and only leads to frustration;
- Be explicit about cultural differences. Learn about the different communication styles of other regions. That's true even within countries that speak the language and between various areas of the United States;
- Travel often. There's something about face-to-face time that technology still can't replicate. While you're visiting, do fun things together. Don't make it all about work;
- Have side channels in Slack, Hangouts, or whatever your organization uses that are explicitly for fun. Joking is the opposite of fighting. Make sure everyone is invited and the content stays PC - these things can turn toxic very quickly;
This is what has worked for me at large tech companies. - If your schedule requires unpleasant meeting times, make them equally unpleasant for all sites, such as by rotating which site has to get up early. Similarly, travel should be roughly equally unpleasant. If one site is much smaller than others, making them take more of the unpleasantness is acceptable. Just make sure they know that's the deal when you hire them;
- As the manager, actively maintain team culture across sites. Communicate your values and expectations through words and actions. Otherwise, the teams will tend to drift apart;
- When founding a new location, have a few strong people from the existing team live and work in the new location for a couple of months. Ideally, one or two would transfer permanently. This ensures practical training and the transfer of team culture.
This is what has worked for me at large tech companies.
Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams
Effective management of remote teams plays a crucial role today. Changes in the world require a different approach than traditional in-person team management. Therefore, we want to familiarize yourself with the best practices for managing remote teams below:
Use the Right Technology
Choosing the right technology is partly the most critical step when managing a remote team. Advanced communication platforms, collaboration tools, and secure data-sharing applications are necessary.
Tools like Slack for communication, Trello or Asana for project management, and secure cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox ensure that the team can collaborate effectively and securely, regardless of physical location.
Foster a Strong Team Culture
A strong team culture is even more vital when managing a team remotely. Bringing the team together at everyday gatherings helps to improve communication and create a sense of inclusion. Events on online platforms like Google Meet or Zoom can include different interactivity, from workshops on specialized knowledge to online quests for fun.
If the company has implemented fixed remote, offline team-building events, they are held every week or monthly on the last working day. This is a great option to bring the team closer and embed their culture. Moreover, these activities help replicate the water cooler conversations of the physical office environment, making team members feel connected and part of a community. Thus, they maintain morale and foster a sense of belonging in how to lead a remote team.
Support Flexible Work Hours
Support Hybrid Work Hours is a great option to bridge offline and online formats. You can move critical tasks or communications to a day when all workers are in the office.
While managing remotely offers the advantage of flexible schedules, maintaining specific core working hours where the entire agile development team is available can significantly enhance collaboration. This approach gives the team a predictable real-time communication and meeting window, ensuring that time zone differences do not hamper collaboration.
However, as with all practices, it's crucial to balance this with the need for flexibility. Remote work allows employees to manage work-life balance better, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.
Set Clear Expectations and Goals
Without casual office banter and impromptu check-ins, transparent, measurable outcomes and deadlines are necessary. This approach aligns everyone toward a common purpose and unlocks the benefits of team augmentation.
Remember, goals are like a compass. They point everyone in the right direction. But just like a compass needs recalibration, so do goals. Regularly review and adjust them to reflect changes in the finding outsourcing project or the team's capabilities. This ensures everyone stays focused and on track.
Provide Continuous Feedback and Support
Isolation can creep in when working with remote teams, so it's crucial to combat this by offering regular feedback and support. Think of it like a virtual coffee break where you can share insights, address concerns, and celebrate achievements.
Remember, a supportive environment isn't just about work. It's about ensuring your team has the resources and support they need to thrive professionally and personally. This investment in their well-being pays off in spades. A happy, healthy team is a productive team.
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Potential Risks and Solutions in Remote Management
Despite its many benefits (key), several risks are associated. We advise you to familiarize yourself with the solutions to avoid them.
Quality Control Issues
Risk:
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is ensuring quality. Without the ability to pop over to someone's desk, things can slip through the cracks. Miscommunication, limited access to resources, and even a dip in motivation can all impact the quality of work.
Solution:
The key is a solid quality assurance plan. Regular check-ins, clear performance goals, and project management tools are essential. Think of it like a virtual safety net. By providing the right resources and ongoing training, you can inspire your team and guarantee their performance remains exceptional.
Culture Differences
Risk:
A remote working team is like a global village. People from all walks come together, bringing their unique cultural perspectives. Communication styles, work ethics, and cultural nuances can sometimes cause friction.
Solution:
The key is to embrace diversity and celebrate it. Conduct cultural sensitivity training to help everyone understand and appreciate different perspectives. Encourage open dialogue about cultural differences and how they can enrich the team. Remember, diversity is a gift, not a challenge. It's about finding ways to leverage it for the team's benefit.
Communication Breakdowns
Risk:
One of the biggest challenges of remote work is communication. Without casual office chats or hallway conversations, messages can easily get lost in translation. Misunderstandings can lead to errors, frustration, and even isolation.
Solution:
The key is to be intentional about communication. Use various tools like instant messaging, video calls, and email to cater to different styles. Set clear communication protocols, including regular team meetings and one-on-one check-ins. Remember, in a remote setting, over-communication is critical. Make sure leaders are approachable and available to address concerns or clarify doubts.
By proactively addressing these risks, you can overcome potential challenges and create a more effective and rewarding remote work environment. Think of it like building a bridge; with the proper planning and preparation, you can turn a potential obstacle into a solid foundation for success.
With the right approach, you can transform potential challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement.
To Sum Up
To summarize, we've concluded that managing staff remotely is a risky but incredibly effective business challenge. If you follow and understand all the nuances of remote collaboration and subcontracting, you can easily create an environment where communication is perfect without losing meaning and flexibility.
Due to world events, the information society has reached the point where the only way out is to implement remotely controlled work in your business. This transition signals a shift to using technology and embracing organizational change to create an environment where remote work will thrive and operate with results for you.
Organizations can succeed in the evolving remote work landscape by adopting best practices and addressing potential risks. However, don't hesitate to contact the professionals if you face challenges.
