In the last five years, the number of remote workers has increased by 44%.
Why are we seeing this trend in virtual workers? Employees who work remotely report a more flexible lifestyle, high productivity rates, and improved employee engagement.
Remote team management can be tricky but not impossible. Let’s dive into how you can become a successful remote manager.
Keep up With Communication
Remote team management starts with a solid communication strategy. Since you and your team cannot meet face-to-face every day, the remote manager must emphasize consistent virtual communication.
Arrange for daily check-in meetings with your team or one-on-one virtual meetups. This allows your team to come together, discuss progress, and work through challenges. The meetings allow managers to deliver relevant company information or announce upcoming changes.
Manage Expectations
Managing remotely means setting clear expectations. You must set realistic guidelines, so your team knows what they need to do.
Working remotely means less supervision. Employees may struggle with reduced access to managerial support and resources. Let your team know ways to get in touch with you, and how you expect them to handle issues while working remotely.
Managing a remote team may also mean projects may take longer to complete. There may be more virtual back-and-forth communication compared to working in the office. Managers should acknowledge this and set realistic timelines for tasks while working remotely.
Setting clear expectations with your team sets them up for success. The more prepared your team is, the better they can perform their work.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Reliable tools are an essential aspect of remotely managing a team. You don’t want your daily call-ins to become a tech-nightmare on Zoom.
Make sure you and your team are equipped with high-quality computers, laptops, cellphones, and software. From your senior employees to your newly-hired temp, everyone needs the proper equipment.
The good news is numerous tools make virtual collaboration run smoothly. Slack, Google Drive, Zoom, Basecamp, and Krisp are a few examples of remote work tools that help teams stay connected.
Trust Your Team
Managing remote employees requires a lot of trust from the manager.
You cannot supervise your department as closely as you would on-site. But everyone has different work methods, so trust that your team is staying on track. According to HubSpot, 77% of remote employees claim to be more productive from home, and 23% claim they work longer hours compared to in-house workers.
Managers should focus on goals, not the daily activities of their team. Concentrate on the accomplishments. As long as your team is meeting their goals and finishing tasks on time, then you’re in great shape.
Create Bonding Experiences
Just because you’re remote doesn’t mean your team can’t have a little fun with virtual team building activities.
Remote workers don’t get face-to-face communication and bonding that working in the office provides. Remote activities boost collaboration, morale, and trust. Plan a virtual happy hour or schedule a Zoom lunch-and-learn to boost team bonding remotely.
Learn More About Team Management
Team management can be challenging, whether you’re in the office or working from home. But as long as you follow the right tips, you can successfully manage your department from anywhere.
If you’re looking to boost your team by adding new players, we can help. Contact us now to learn about our top-notch staffing services.
