Remote work arrangements used to be few and far between. But ever since the pandemic, more and more companies are operating fully remotely.
Whether some organizations accept it or not, having a distributed workforce is the future of the global IT Industry. The organizations that had comprehended and exercised this fact, had an easier time making this transition.
Most offices are also going remote to reduce their infrastructure costs drastically. Also, to empower businesses to keep running even in case of any regional calamities. A distributed workforce gives you access to Global talent. You can identify and hire the right people who are the best fit for the job.
Having said that, building a culture that upholds and fuels a global remote workforce is easier said than done. Some companies are skeptical about working with a global team. And that’s primarily because they don’t know how to manage a remote team and make it work.
This blog highlights five tips, which, when implemented, will ensure maximum collaboration and productivity with your global remote team.
Set Expectations
As the project adapts to this style of working, provide your team appropriate time to settle into this changed scenario. Do not expect 100% productivity from the first day.
Gradually work towards setting expectations. What is to be done by the employee should be clear to him. Hence at the beginning of the project, the final goal to be achieved should be discussed in detail. Further, as the tasks are divided amongst team members, it should be easy for them to visualize, what is to be created.
Be Intentional
Simply put, this means taking extra efforts to make your remote team feel like they belong to your organization, that they’re not unlike your local team.
When an employee, remote or otherwise, feels appreciated or recognized, their productivity automatically increases. Simple things like responding to them as quickly as possible, creating virtual spaces for socializing, or always remembering and celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries may seem insignificant, but can be extremely gratifying.
Make each team meeting an intentional opportunity to engage with your remote team, and find new ways to contribute towards a healthy collaboration.
Take Advantage of Technology
By now, most of us have been forced down a path of digital transformation that can take most organizations months, if not years, to adopt. Tools like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams which most of you are already using on a daily basis provide simple platforms for tackling remote communication.
It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but once fully adopted, it has been a fantastic way to support engagement strategies. And just for getting stuff done!
Embrace Cultural Differences and Viewpoints
The global team brings many different together in one place. This diversity is an amazing benefit, especially since customers are global as well.
A multicultural team gives a broader view of the world and how we can solve different problems together. But this would not be possible if we weren’t intentional about creating an environment where everyone’s voices are heard and respected.
To manage an international team where people have different perspectives and attitudes toward work, the entire company must embrace these cultural differences and not try to make people fit into their way of working and thinking.
Avoid Micromanaging
Trust your Team. It is apparent, you will not have visibility into what the team members are doing on a constant basis. Give them the freedom to get work done as per their schedule after assigning them the tasks to be completed. Trust is a crucial factor when dealing with remote teams.
Managing every aspect of how the goals are being achieved turns into micromanaging. Instead, you should be focusing on the outcomes and not the activities. If the product being delivered matches the quality that you need that should be enough reason to let your team function independent.
To Conclude
Managing employees remotely is not that hard when you hire the right people for your team. People that you can trust 100%, people who value freedom, and people that are eager to take responsibility.
The key to success is communicating in advance what you expect from your team and giving them the freedom to get it done.
