Covid-19 has significantly changed the ecosystem of many businesses. Although working remotely is not a new term, the pandemic has established the importance of this style more profoundly. Now it is quite a popular style of working. Companies have noticeably benefitted by adapting this style. But it is a fact that every good thing has a bad side too. One of the key challenges of adopting a remote working style for employers is to manage their remote staff and team.

Managing a remote team includes several activities such as allocating tasks, monitoring their activities, communicating business and goals, compensating for the job and etc. Though managing a remote team is similar to managing an on-the-site team, it involves more challenges to manage a remote team. One of the key challenges is communication. When you have a remote staff, you can’t be sure of their available time for communication. You also can’t monitor your team’s productivity properly.

In this article, we give you some tips to improve the management of your remote team.

Tips to improve your remote team management

The most important tip to manage your remote team effectively is through clear and detailed communication. However, improving remote team management can be achieved through various strategies and practices.  Here are some strategies in the following-

Foster direct and regular communication

Direct and regular communication is mandatory for managing remote teams. Develop a culture of direct communication with every remote staff personally. You can use a combination of video calls, email, chat, and project management tools to stay connected with your team. You must schedule regular check-ins, team meetings, and one-on-one meetings to keep everyone updated. It will keep your remote staff aligned and engaged with other members and their tasks.  Then, you have to clearly communicate the goals, roles, and responsibilities of each team member. This includes setting expectations for work hours, availability, and communication channels. Establish guidelines for remote work etiquette and communication protocols to ensure smooth collaboration.

Develop a common communication policy

As stated earlier, communication is the key aspect of managing your remote team successfully. You must avoid miscommunication because it can lead your business to face losses. So, you have to devise a specific communication policy for your remote staff. It will help you to maintain communication with your staff easily. Provide your remote staff with a common communication platform such as chat groups, social media groups, social networking apps and etc. 

Focus on outcomes, not micromanagement

Remote work is based on trust and autonomy. You have to avoid micromanagement and instead focus on outcomes and results. You must set clear performance expectations, provide feedback, and recognize achievements. You have to trust your team members to manage their work and deliver results. However, you must ask your remote staff about their needs and priorities. It will help you motivate your remote team. Additionally, remote work can blur the lines between work and personal life. You have to encourage and give scope to your team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. As an employer, you must be empathetic and understanding toward your remote staff’s challenges and provide support when needed. You should also offer opportunities for virtual team-building activities and social interactions to promote team bonding and morale.

Use Employee Analytics Software

Employee Analytics refers to measuring the productivity of employees through several metrics. One of the biggest challenges of managing a remote is measuring their productivity and efficiency. It is very essential for a business to measure its staff’s productivity. Staffs are the major operators of business activities. But measuring your remote teams’ productivity is quite difficult as they are not present in front of you. So, you should always keep track of your remote staff through employee productivity and tracking software like Controlio. Controlio is an advanced employee analytics software. This software provides you with detailed reports about your remote staff’s activity through their work desktops. It helps you take necessary measures for your remote team management. You can keep track of employees’ computer activities and monitor if they are misusing any resource of your organization. 

Solicit feedback and continuously improve

To attain success in your management strategy, you should regularly seek feedback from your remote team members on how to improve remote team management. Then, you have to act on the feedback and continuously refine your remote team management practices to meet the evolving needs of your team. Another thing, As a leader, set an example for your remote team by demonstrating good remote work practices. You must be responsive, communicative, and supportive. You have to be proactive in addressing challenges and resolving conflicts.

Conclusion

The management style can be different from industry to industry. But managing a remote team is quite similar in every. When you have a remote team working for you, you have to ensure quick responses to every query of your staff. Again, there are a lot of technologies in the market that facilitate employee management profoundly. The above-mentioned strategies are some proved techniques for remote team management. If you are struggling to manage your remote staff, review your current strategy and implement these strategies.