How to Manage Remote teams Effectively

An International Workplace Group global workplace survey has estimated that as many as 20 million UK workers can work from home. Currently, millions of workers are forced to or have chosen to work from home given the COVID-19 crisis.

We understand that some managers may feel like they have no control over the situation or struggle to switch to working with a remote team. Managers need to adapt to make the situation effective for organisations. It’s extremely important that everyone has clear expectations of them as everyone has a different perception of what doing something quickly or thoroughly means.

At a difficult time we’ve put together some top tips to make sure that you can still manage people from the comfort of your own home…

1.      Communicate

Pick up the phone, let people know you are available. Try not to micromanage your team as this can affect morale but too little contact can also make workers feel as though they are not part of the bigger picture. Respond to remote team members quickly when they get in touch. Use multiple channels to communicate, including video calling. If we do not schedule time or talk with one another, silence becomes very loud. Remote employees might end up wondering how they're doing. Everyone should feel included.

2.      Build Trust

Some organisations are concerned about whether or not work will get completed to the same level as if they were in the office. You can manage this by setting up working-from-home guidelines. These may include details such as emails must be responded to within XX hours or using instant messaging systems or text for urgent matters. Ensure to take into account ‘no contact hours’ so you know teammates are not working nonstop and getting breaks.

3.      Create a ‘Team’ feeling

Try to get all remote workers involved in virtual meetings. At least once a week get everyone together to remind them that they are part of a larger organisation and can speak to those in similar positions. Set expectations and check-ins to ensure the meetings are fully embraced.

4.      Clear Mission, Values, Outcomes And Role

Help home workers to stay aligned with overall business mission and values. Make sure that their role is clearly defined and they can see how they feed into the bigger picture. This will help to keep them motivated and working productively.

5.      Use reliable technology

If those working from home cannot access files, conference calls, or are not considered regarding time zone differences when relevant then they will not be effective. You must make sure that you have robust tools and training in place to make collaboration possible.

6.      Focus on Goals

It is important to stay focused on goals when embracing a remote workforce. Don't analyse what is being done by each employee, pay attention to what is being accomplished. If you are accomplishing business targets you do not need to focus on the detail of individual productivity.

7.      Give People Opportunities

Just because your team may be remote this does not mean that they are not keen to develop their skills. When communicating take an interest in individual’s learning goals, maybe some of these align with the goals of the organisation? Engagement and performance are much higher when people feel listened to and invested in.

8.      Be Personal

Use remote technology to create time for celebrating days like birthdays, company milestones (e.g. months or years of service), as well as community recognition. Creating a community helps develop a corporate culture that inspires connection, which can result in increased productivity as employees feel valued.

If you would like to talk to us about helping your people to reach their potential with effective management and communication please get in touch Jacqui@yourpeoplepotential.co.uk or call 01954 267640.