A lot has changed about the world of business in recent years, such as the popularity of remote working. A lot of businesses now work on a remote or hybrid basis, with employees basing themselves far and wide, and working together on a global scale. Though there are a lot of benefits to having a remote team, there are unique challenges that come with effectively managing everyone. Without everyone working in the same office, you can’t simply call a last minute in-person meeting and gather everyone in a conference room. You can’t pop over to someone’s desk to discuss a project, and you can’t bet on everyone working the same hours. This is why effective management is vital.
Rise of Remote Work
There is no denying that remote working is on the rise, with a growing number of people purposely seeking out hybrid and remote working opportunities. This was likely to happen anyway, given the benefits of working remotely, but the pandemic forced a lot of businesses to embrace this new way of doing things sooner than planned. Many businesses have yet to change back, and they are still working on a remote or hybrid basis, something that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
There are a lot of advantages to remote working. For example, it enables businesses to operate on a global scale and it allows hiring managers to access talent from around the world, without being limited by location. It’s also hugely beneficial in terms of productivity, as remote workers have fewer office distractions, shorter commutes and the ability to work during their most productive hours.
Effective Communication
Effective communication is key if you want your remote team to succeed. Without the benefits of face-to-face interactions, it’s important to establish clear communication practices from the start. This means choosing the right communication tools, and selecting the right tool for various forms of communication. For example, effective communication relies on having a reliable tool for video conferencing, messaging, project management and email. You should also set clear communication guidelines and establish what you expect from employees. Let your team know what you expect for communication response times and your preferred channels.
Managing Time Zones and Flexibility
One of the major benefits of remote working is the flexibility it offers employees, something that a lot of workers are embracing in a big way. When remote working options are available, people are no longer limited by living in a specific location and having to choose a role that they can easily commute to. In a remote team, employees can be located in different parts of the world, and they can work for global companies.
But, this does mean that you need to factor various time zones into your management. Though everyone doesn’t have to work the exact same hours – something that would be difficult for those working abroad, as this could lead to them working unsociable hours – there should be a window of overlapping core working hours. This allows for real-time communication, easy collaboration and fewer delays when it comes to solving problems.
Flexibility is also something to consider when you are managing a remote team. Flexible working hours can improve employee wellbeing by allowing people to work during their most productive hours, or to work in a way that helps with childcare responsibilities. It can also reduce stress from long commutes and create a better work life balance. When you are managing a remote team, it’s important to accommodate flexible working requests as much as possible.
Importance of Collaboration and Team Bonding
Collaboration and team bonding are key parts of effectively managing a remote team, especially if you want a team that works well together. In an in-office environment, team members are able to build relationships through casual interactions and conversations. This is more difficult in a remote setting, and intentional efforts are often needed to create these same relationships. By organising collaboration and team bonding activities, you can help to build trust among team members, making them more comfortable working together and sharing ideas.
Collaboration encourages open communication, which is a key for sharing information, discussing ideas and solving problems. When team members feel connected and comfortable with one another, they are more likely to talk openly and ask for help when needed. Collaborative workplaces also encourage employees to share knowledge, ideas and different perspectives, which can lead to innovative solutions and improved decision making.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
One of the main challenges of managing a remote team in today’s world is navigating cybersecurity and data protection. You need to ensure that sensitive information is safe and secure, and that data breaches are unlikely to happen. This means developing remote work security policies that outline guidelines for handling sensitive data, using company devices and accessing company networks, and sharing this information with employees. You should also include processes for password management, device security and safe internet practices.
It’s also a good idea to use secure communication tools for email, messaging, and video conferencing to protect sensitive information. Choose communication tools with end-to-end encryption to ensure that only authorised parties can access and intercept the information.
With a remote team, you need to make sure that employees are aware of the importance of cybersecurity and data protection, and they are trained on how to minimise the risk. Organise cybersecurity training to educate remote team members about potential threats and phishing attacks, and promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness by encouraging employees to report suspicious activities.