Since the pandemic, we have seen a drastic increase in employees’ desire to work remotely. While many industries attempt to bring workers back into the office, other companies, such as Sidekicks, are leaning forward even more into the remote landscape. We have over a decade of remote work and management experience and know what it takes to manage a remote team – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mastering the art of remote team management takes a unique blend of leadership skills, trust, and flexibility. We have found remote work to be immensely rewarding for employees and employers. As you might expect, it all starts with communication, just like any in-office workplace.
This guide explores several practical strategies for managing your remote team and still creating the trusting environment and culture you want!
Communication is Key
When managing a remote team, communication becomes even more significant. Regular check-ins, both as a team and individually, help keep everyone engaged and ensure that tasks are on track. Remember, communication should not be limited to work-related matters. Encourage casual conversations to maintain a sense of community and camaraderie, just as you would have in an office setting. A weekly virtual “coffee break” can serve as a casual space for team members to chat and share personal updates.
Clear communications and results build trust. View this as an opportunity to improve your communication skills as a leader. There are fewer chances to observe body language, so becoming clear and concise via phone/video/email is essential, which brings us to:
Setting Clear Expectations
Outside of communicating clearly, this is where we see managers and teams go sideways. When you set clear expectations for your remote employees, they know what to do. Now you have something to measure them against, and they have something to measure their work.
As a leader, you are responsible for ensuring your team members understand their responsibilities, the team’s goals, and the bigger picture for the company. Write it out for record and have a call with your remote employees. Ensure they understand your expectations, how often you will communicate, and the results you want to see.
Here is the beauty of remote work – You set the expectations for the remote employee. They now have the responsibility to get it done, but on their terms, and you should not care whether it is done at 5 am or 10 pm, as long as it gets done. The employee can now balance their life obligations and still deliver what you expect them to. If you run into issues, refer to the clear communication and expectations section above.
Here’s the catch – you need to use the right modern tools to help build this trust virtually.
The Right Tools for the Right Tasks
The success of a remote team heavily relies on having the right tools and technology. As a manager, one of your initial responsibilities is to ensure that your team has access to the necessary software and platforms. The most important one is your team’s communication tool.
Communication tools:
Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom are examples of ways to keep everyone connected. For example, you might want to set up daily stand-ups using Zoom or create specific channels on Slack for different projects, allowing team members to collaborate effectively. My favorite technique to keep teams completely in sync without hours and hours of meetings is to hold a virtual chat stand-up. This entails using something like MS Teams or Slack with a dedicated team channel solely meant for everyone to report what they are working on. Each team members answer three simple questions:
- What did I accomplish yesterday?
- What am I working on today?
- What are my blockers?
It’s simple, but it is very effective. Everyone is held accountable for their work, including the manager. The manager gets to see, every day, what the team is working on. Lastly, the manager has a chance to resolve issues/blockers quickly—full transparency for all.
Project Management Tools:
I could spend hours chatting about project management tools, which may become another future blog. As a manager and/or business owner, you genuinely need a tool to manage your business. There are many project management tools, but to help your remote team excel, look for one that does everything. Such tools include Jira, Asana, and my personal favorite, ClickUp.
These tools allow your entire remote team to view tasks, customer leads, sales funnels, and practically everything else in a real-time environment. When done correctly, there is no need to hold status meetings constantly. Your project management tool can provide the status you need in real-time and accountability for each team member.
Encouraging Autonomy and Trust
Micromanaging can hinder productivity and morale, especially in a remote work environment. Encourage autonomy by trusting your team members to manage their tasks and time effectively. Use your communication and project management tools to provide the required transparency, and then empower your remote team members to get it done. Doing so will go a long way in fostering an environment of empowerment and accountability. For example, instead of checking on your team members multiple times a day, set a regular check-in meeting and give them the freedom to manage their tasks in between.
Prioritize Team Bonding
Fostering a sense of team spirit and camaraderie can be more challenging with a remote team, but it is absolutely doable. Set a cadence with the team and conduct regular team meetings, virtual coffee breaks, online team-building activities, and celebrating achievements together to help create a connected and inclusive team culture.
The key to managing a remote team is to let everyone see each other’s faces on Zoom/Teams at least once a week and then let them get to work.
Support Work-Life Balance
Recognizing and promoting a healthy work-life balance is critical when managing a remote team. Be mindful of the unique challenges your team members may face while working from home and support them in managing these effectively. You might implement “no meeting” blocks in the workday or encourage team members to set “do not disturb” times to focus on deep work or family time. Remember, building trust is key, and once there is trust, let the employee handle their business. Both of you know that you still expect them to get the work done, so let them.
Providing Regular Feedback
Feedback is essential in any work setting and is no different for remote teams. Regular constructive feedback helps employees understand their performance level and areas for improvement. Remember to recognize and appreciate good work, as it can be a powerful motivator. For instance, a regular one-on-one meeting can be ideal for providing constructive feedback and acknowledging achievements. Schedule a recurring video chat with your employee and make it happen.
Conclusion
Managing a remote team requires adaptability, empathy, and strong leadership skills. You can achieve this by promoting open communication, setting clear expectations, encouraging autonomy, and advocating for a healthy work-life balance. By creating a conducive work environment, you can ensure that your team thrives and achieves its objectives.
At Sidekicks, we understand the unique challenges of managing remote teams. We strive to equip agents with the tools and support they need to navigate the world of remote team members successfully. If you’re ready to grow your business with an exceptional remote Service or Executive Sidekick, we’re here to help.
Embrace the journey of leading a remote team, knowing that each step forward brings new opportunities for growth and success. We can’t wait to see the incredible things you and your team will accomplish!