Nowadays we have seen an exponential increase in companies sending their workers home to do the work remotely. If you also want to take the step or improve your teleworking system these tips about how to manage teams remotely will be of great help.
The contents that we will see in this post are the following
- Tools to manage teams virtually
- How to manage remote work teams effectively?
- Working remotely with happy employees
Tools to manage teams virtually
One of the most important aspects to consider when managing teams virtually is deciding which tools to use. These tools will be key to keeping the business running smoothly in the same way as it did at the office.
Effective communication is the starting point for good management. Whether you have a large team or a small group of employees working from home, two-way communication is essential.
To encourage regular dialogue, managers and team leaders must be available to employees at the appropriate times. Use software such as the virtual switchboard to talk to employees from anywhere, as they can receive a call on an internet-connected IP phone, on their mobile phone via an app or on their computer and/or tablet.
One of the biggest challenges facing remote workers is loneliness and lack of collaboration and/or communication with colleagues.
The use of video conferencing and communication software to connect team members is paramount. Unified communications applications such as 3CX allow team members to communicate with each other via instant messaging or video call, and they can also see who is currently connected.
Finally, use another software to perform more specific tasks. Although we work from home we have to manage the working hours of the employees and count their hours, so recording the working hours over the phone by simply dialing a number can be a good option. At Megacall we offer this type of solution.
How to manage remote work teams effectively?
Now let’s break down some tips for managing remote work teams effectively.
Maintain consistent processes and standards.
Use cloud-based systems to do the work remotely and be able to offer unified processes to all employees. Mark the tools to be used and the forms of communication so that the team knows how to act in any situation.
Value the team and recognise its work.
It is important to value the work done by the team, as teleworking can be more difficult than daily work in an office, where direct contact with colleagues and superiors helps to know if objectives are being met.
Positive reinforcement (rewarding or emphasising behaviour to encourage repetition) or constructive feedback (criticism) can be given, commenting on what and how to improve.
Delegate tasks.
Non-communication creates difficulties for mutual trust between team members. Employees who feel that the company trusts them are more committed and will be much more productive.
Therefore, to keep employees motivated, start by delegating and giving them the confidence they deserve.
Be transparent and create a culture based on trust.
This point is closely related to the previous one. Transparency helps companies to build trust between management and employees. When all team members are aware of the daily details of a project, the whole team feels more involved. Team members will feel confident to raise ideas, questions or other issues relating to all aspects of a project.
Working remotely with happy employees
Good communication will encourage collaboration and a sense of involvement by employees. The team will produce more and increase its creativity. A study by Growth Engineering highlights that happy employees are:
- 31% more productive
- They achieve 37% more sales
- 40% more likely to receive a promotion
- Less absent, with 23% fewer fatigue symptoms
- Up to 10% more engaged at work
We hope that this guide with tips for managing teams in different locations has given you some new ideas. If you have any questions you can leave them in the comments.