Our articles about remote work and decentralised teams tend to do well with a growing community of digital nomads and people just frustrated with a regular 9-5.
You can read them here, here and over here as well.
Being a digital nomad or remote worker has never been easier and the rise of the startup world is also giving them more opportunities to apply their skills as and when they need. However, as with many teams, productivity and output can be issue if you’re not used to managing these teams, so here are some more tips on how to create a productive remote team.
Feedback is critical
Remote work presents challenges for both the employee and the people managing the teams, so having a feedback system is crucial. Use simple tools like Qualtrics or OfficeVibe are easy to use methods to gather feedback from your team wherever they might be.
These can bring minor issues which may escalate and prevent employee dissatisfaction.
Make communication a focal point
For remote teams spread around the world, a proper project management tool is crucial. But this creates a problem as each management tool you use, also includes communication channels, which can create silos or information blackholes between teams if you segregate communication.
Whether you’re using Slack, Trello, Basecamp or any of the dozens of tools out there, make sure you have a central communication platform that everyone uses. It is crucial to keep it consistent so make sure every member knows these platforms are mandatory.
Make sure people know where each team is located
Not to point fingers, but working with American clients based in the US, can be really challenging. A midnight call or 5 am video conference is a common request and this can be challenging to keep a team productive.
Don’t be that kind of guy.
Usually, calendar functions that localise for each person based on their location can help with avoiding these late night calls or even setting up an alternating system where each side takes the brunt of the poor timing rather than just one team. This helps prevent fatigue, lack motivation and making some teams feel under appreciated.
A kudos goes a long way
Getting a ‘good job’ from your boss can be as difficult as getting blood from a stone, but can actually be a critical part of an employees journey in a company.
In lieu of office drinks and a team lunch, remote teams can make efforts to applaud and acknowledge great work through communication and online representations.
From as simple as posting messages on the general Slack channel to highlight someone’s great work or having a weekly best employee award for the team can help boost morale. Everyone is human and having that digital ‘pat of the back’ can go a long way.
It looks like it is here to stay
It seems likely that global remote work will continue to rise, so managers need to be prepared. Having the right tools can ensure that productivity continues to grow and managers are prepared for the change.