People can now work from anywhere in the globe because to technology. Remote work is hardly a brand-new idea. Since 2009, an increasing number of people have started working remotely. 16 percent of all organisations worldwide operate fully remotely, according to a recent discovery.
Because of this, the number of virtual teams, which are made up of people who work remotely, has increased. Even while this form of work offers flexibility and freedom, managing a virtual team can be difficult.
You may be considering hiring a remote team as a business owner and wondering if it’s worthwhile. The benefits & drawbacks of virtual teams are frequently debatable, but one thing is certain: if you want your remote team to make, you need to be well-equipped with the appropriate technology and tools.
We’ll give our best tech advice for leading a remote team in this article. We can help you with everything from efficient work management to successful communication. Let’s get going!
The difficulties in managing virtual teams
Although it can be difficult, leading a virtual team is not insurmountable. Making it work requires organisation, communication, and patience.
Effective time management is ones of the main difficulties. Finding an time that works for everyone to get together for a video session or work on a project can be challenging because team members are dispersed throughout the globe.
Making sure everyone is on the same page is another challenge. Misunderstandings are common because there isn’t any face-to-face communication. Updates must be sent with additional care, and you must make sure that everyone on the team is informed of any changes or new instructions.
Maintaining team morale is one of the major issues, to sum up. It’s simple for team members to feel alienated and unmotivated when they can’t meet each other face to face.
Whether it’s via routine check-ins or enjoyable team-building activities, you have to find up with innovative ways to keep everyone interested and motivated.
Tech tips that work to manage a virtual team
Managing a team of people that are dispersed throughout the world might be challenging, but with the correct tools and strategies, it is possible to do it successfully. So, let’s examine the following tips for managing a virtual team effectively.
1. Get to know the members on your team.
The last thing you want when working with a team that is spread across the globe is for communication to break down. Getting to know your team members is the greatest approach to prevent this.
To begin, make a team profile for each of your members. Included here should be the person’s name, job title, employer, contact information, social media handles, and any other details you see relevant.
You can include this information in a collaborative document or spreadsheet, or you can utilise a special team management tool like Trello.
Having this information at your finger-tips will make it simple for you to contact your team when necessary and foster stronger working ties.
2. Establish goals and clear expectations
Setting clear expectations and goals is one of the greatest ways to manage a virtual team. In this order, everyone is in agreement and is aware of what must be done for success.
Additionally, it’s crucial to be explicit when laying out expectations. For instance, try “finish three tasks before the end of the day” instead of “be more productive.” Your team member will now have a clear objective to work for as a result.
It’s crucial to make sure your goals are reachable while setting them. Be reasonable in your expectations since nobody wants to feel like they’re always falling short. Encourage your team members when they succeed and recognise tiny victories.
Making sure everyone is aware of the project’s deadlines and goals is another crucial aspect of creating expectations. There won’t be any misunderstandings or missed deadlines because everyone will be working towards the same objective.
3. Hold frequent gatherings
Regular meetings are one of the most crucial elements of managing a virtual team. By doing this, it will be easier to make sure that everyone is informed and that the communication is understood.
A weekly meeting or daily check-ins when people report on their progress are both options. Depending on what work best for you and your team, you might combine the two.
A great method to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that nobody slips behind is to do regular check-ins. Additionally, it fosters accountability and keeps everyone engaged.
There are several ways to conduct meetings. You can see & hear everyone in the meeting by using video conferencing software like Zoom. When you need to talk to someone in person about something, this is great. When you need to have a brief conversation, using a tool like Slack or Zoom for texting or audio-only meetings is a great alternative.
Whatever approach you decide on, make sure to establish a consistent schedule so that everyone is aware of when the meeting is scheduled and can plan accordingly.
4. Promote and Encourage Collaboration
The promotion of collaboration is one of the most difficult aspects of managing a virtual team.
When team members are dispersed among several time zones, it might be challenging for them to collaborate together efficiently. However, you can encourage and foster team among your members if you have the appropriate tools.
Here are a few advices:
- To collaborate real-time collaboration with team members, use video conferencing tools like Skype or Zoom.
- Create and share papers, tasks, and project plans using online tools like Asana or Google Docs. Team members will be able to monitor and collaborate together on projects in real-time as a result.
- Establish online networks with other professionals and collaborate together on projects by using social media sites like Twitter or LinkedIn.
- Use video conferencing to conduct regular team meetings to keep everyone informed about projects and goals.
- To remain in touch and efficiently collaborate, encourage team members to communicate frequently via email, chat, or phone conversations.
5. Use Tools for Communication
When working with an remote team, communication is essential. Make sure everyone is informed and has the information they require to perform their duties.
You can achieve this with the use of a number of different communication tools. Slack, a virtual phone service, and Asana are the most widely used tools.
You can track progress, exchange files with your team, and communicate with them using tools like Asana and Slack.
However, there are occasions when professional communication with the team and team members demands a telephone call. Cloud telephony is useful in these situations. Even more impressive is the facts that these cloud phones are less expensive than conventional phones.
There are many virtual phone number providers available, which can reduce your telecommunication costs by up to 50%. With your own phone number, you may make clients locally and abroad and communicate with coworkers and team members from any location.
It’s crucial to try out many tools to determine which one works best for you and your team before choosing one.
6. Adopt a policy of open doors
Having an open-door services policy is one of the greatest ways to manage a remote team. This means that any time, for any reason, team members should feel free to contact you.
There are several ways for doing this. Make sure you have a defined channel for your team members to reach you before anything else (e.g., email, chat app, phone line, etc.). Second, make sure to periodically check in with your team and address any queries or worries they may have.
Last but not least, don’t be hesitant to delegate! Ask an team member to assist you if you feel like you are receiving requests all the time. This not only lessens your workload but also demonstrates to them your respect for and faith in their judgement.
7. Encourage Comments
Any hope of a virtual team working efficiently will be destroyed by a tight communication loop. Make sure to encourage team input and open lines of communication. This will support establishing trust and enhancing team spirit.
Project management tools, video conferencing software, and chat programmes are just a few examples of the tools you might utilise to facilitate communication. Using these tools will enhance general communication and keep everyone on the same page.
8. Be flexible.
Being flexible with your work schedule is one of the benefits of managing a virtual team. For instance, you might easily change your schedule to work later that night if you had an essential task to attend to during the day.
Utilizing technology allows you to work from any location. You may easily go for a walk if you need to take a break without leaving your house. Additionally, you can works from the comfort of your bed if you’re feeling productive.
9. Honor achievements
A great strategy to keep your team engaged is to celebrate wins. Your team will be more motivated to work hard if they feel valued and know that you are aware of what they are doing.
Make sure to recognise the successes of your team, both as a time and as a whole. Make sure to acknowledge and value your team’s achievements, whether it’s a modest gesture or a larger celebration.
10. Resolve issues quickly
The best courses of action is to deal with potential issues as soon as they arise. This entails maintaining effective communication and taking initiative in your behaviour.
For instance, don’t be afraid to get in touch with someone and reach about the reason they aren’t finishing their tasks on time. You can keep your team operating efficiently by taking care of any issues as soon as they appear.
Conclusion
Virtual team management has become easier thanks to technology for small organisations. A virtual team may be managed by anyone with the correct tools and advice. You can expedite communication and keep your team busy by using the appropriate tech tools and implementing these easy tips.
