More and more teams are being managed remotely. Many businesses are looking at the advantages of remote teams and the savings they can bring to their balance sheets. Managing a remote team does come with challenges as well as advantages. Here is a look at some effective ways to manage a team remotely and some of the resources you will need to get the job done.
Get The Right Software Suite
Managing a team remotely requires a suite of software that is efficient and cost-effective. It is impossible to lead and manage a team without the appropriate tools. There is a huge range of programmes to choose from, but not all of them can offer the features you need in an affordable price range. TeamViewer is a great example of this.
This piece of software is a popular choice among professionals managing remote teams. It allows you to share screens and is a great remote viewing and control programme for any business application. Its cost can be prohibitive, however. TSplus offers the best TeamViewer Alternative for remote desktop support. It is trusted by over half a million companies to give them the tools required to manage teams and systems remotely more cost-effectively than TeamViewer itself. This software should be the centrepiece of your remote support suite. You can easily view the screens of your team, share information and advice, and even take control of their system to help solve problems and offer your support.
Check In And Check Out
Communication and collaboration are the keys to success in any business endeavour. You need to stay in touch with your team to set expectations, offer support, and maintain targets. Your software suite should give you the tools you need to do this, but it is up to you to do the work and take a proactive approach to remote management. There are several different methods you can use to support your team – without giving them the impression that you are breathing down their neck from afar.
Conducting regular one-on-one check-ins is a good step in the right direction. This can be informal and casually scheduled. This lets the team know you are available, and that you will be monitoring their progress and output. It also allows them to air any concerns or grievances and offer their ideas to help improve workflow. This benefits you, the business, and your team members. You should also have a regular virtual team meeting scheduled, even if it does not centre around business concerns. Working remotely can make people feel isolated, so these events are a good way to help ensure team members feel part of a team and encourage them to communicate and support each other.
Output Over Activity
Remote workers have to manage their own time. Allowing them to do this can be difficult if you are not used to remote management. You have to let the results speak for themselves. It can be tempting to begin to monitor your team at every opportunity. Doing this is an inefficient way to manage your own time as well as theirs. Prioritise your team member’s output levels over their activity levels.
People know how to work to stay productive. Everyone is a little different. Just because a team member is not completing tasks in the way you would do them, it does not mean that they are being unproductive or slacking off. Trying to micromanage a team remotely is too time-consuming and can make even prevent team members from performing at their highest level. When managing a team remotely, you have to put your trust in them, and let their output speak for itself. If they are giving you the results that you and your business needs, leave them to it.
Set Reasonable And Clear Expectations
This will be one of the most important parts of managing a remote team and help you to monitor your team’s productivity. Whatever sector you work in or the type of team you manage, your department will have targets within the company that you have to meet. These should be distributed fairly among your team members, and each worker should know what is expected of them day-to-day, and week-to-week.
You not only need to set expectations of productivity, but also let your team know what they can expect from you. Sudden and random video calls can be jarring and may also feel intrusive to your team. Let your team know when they can expect check-ins and group calls and what they need to contribute to them. Ensure they have avenues open to them so they can express concerns or keep you updated on their progress. When a new project comes in, brief your team and set the expectations early. Give them time to prepare themselves and arrange their workflow to accommodate the new demands.
Take some of these steps to help you to maximise all the advantages that come from remote working for both businesses and their employees. A well-managed remote team can be more productive and offer workers a better quality of life than an in-house setting can.
