Many New Zealanders worked from home during the COVID-19 lockdown. Interestingly, employers are considering to invest and make this the new norm. It’ll be the new way of doing things even beyond the COVID-19 crisis. The benefits of changing the way we work such as less office space, fewer trips, and less commute cannot be ignored. However, managing remote teams can be difficult for managers to come to terms with. If you get it right, our team of professional CV writers can help you make it a highlight skill.
Here are a few quick tips to help you manage remote teams and maintain you’re A-game.
Let the Team Know That You Care
Remote teams don’t have an ever-present manager. Unlike a local team, they don’t meet with you when walking on the corridors or bump into you at the copier machine or the water point. That means unless you go out of your way to ask, you will know little about their welfare.
It’s important to let your remote teams know that you care. Schedule a video call and talk with them. Learn about their families, and be concerned about their wellbeing. This way, you’ll know when an individual is stressed and it’s affecting their work. Or you would know smart ways to subtly motivate them.
Help The Team Members Add to Their Skills
Without a doubt, your best chance of hitting the A-game depends on the collective skills, and motivation of the team. Have regular conversations with team members about their career aspirations, and growth plans. If you have a training budget, make arrangements for team members to participate in coaching programs. Also, share with them opportunities to improve their skills especially in the digital space.
Equipping your team with skills empowers them to deliver on the goals.
Set Clear Expectations and Communicate Clearly
Clear communication is a vital element of good management. It is even more vital when you are managing remote teams.
You should be clear about:
- What is expected from team members?
- How it is expected.
- When it is expected.
Make a plan to call your core team members in the morning and have them run you through their day’s schedule. Be clear on the day’s deliverables and plan to review them at the end of the day.
Be In-touch and Let Them Know How They Are Fairing
Since the remote teams don’t have the privilege of having you nearby, check in on them regularly. Call the team leaders intermittently during the day. Let them give you updates and enquire about how specific projects are faring.
Remember to encourage, reward, and support.
Encourage Collaboration
One aspect that becomes very vivid when managing remote teams is that you cannot micro-manage, and neither can the team over-rely on you. So, for those hurdles they face, encourage collaboration. Let them bond, almost like a local team, and deliver creative solutions to the business’ challenges.
Since independence is the main factor in managing remote teams, shift the targets from time-oriented measurements to output-oriented.
Emphasize output and productivity. Not the amount of time spent on a project.
This way, the team prioritizes the work that matters.
Engage the Teams on Productivity Training
Let the team members learn the secrets of maintaining high productivity even when working from a home. Help team members to learn how to protect their working time, healthy habits and how to focus better. Gradually, you will have a more engaged and productive team.
To conclude, as you practice these tips, your team will be more engaged and give better output. Our team of professional CV writers can help you to add these successes to your resume. Your skills in managing a remote team will catapult you to greater career levels.
