Do you find yourself with the challenge of managing remote teams? This is something that has been thrust upon many managers during the coronavirus pandemic, and it is vastly different from managing a team in an office environment. Remote work can benefit the business and employees, but it can make life difficult for managers, especially when they have not managed remote staff before. This is why it is helpful to be aware of a few tips that should help you to excel as a remote manager and get the most out of your team while ensuring that everyone benefits from working remotely.
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1. Establish Expectations & Guidelines
Firstly, you need to make your expectations and guidelines for remote work clear. Remote work gives greater flexibility and freedom, but you still need to outline what is expected of your team. As an example, you might allow them to go out for an hour in the afternoon, but this should always be approved 24 hours beforehand.
2. Enhance Meetings
When it comes to virtual meetings, you will find that sometimes communication can be an issue. This is why it is smart to use transcription software that will provide you and your team with an accurate transcription of important meetings so that all-important messages are communicated, and everyone is on the same page. It also means that people can focus on the meeting with confidence, knowing that they will receive a transcription.
3. Avoid Micromanaging
One of the biggest mistakes that managers make with remote work is micromanaging. It is easy to assume that everyone is slacking off at home when you cannot see them, but actually, most people end up being more productive while working remotely. Avoid micromanaging, but also make sure that you are always available when someone needs you either by phone, online chat, video call, or email.
4. Invest in Remote Tools
Remote work brings many benefits, but it does also pose a few challenges when it comes to collaboration and communication. Many of these challenges can be overcome with remote work tools, which are worth investing in because they should improve performance. This might include tools such as cloud services, videoconferencing software, screen sharing and recording tools, and group chat platforms.
5. Find Ways to Unite & Lift Your Team
Another common issue when it comes to remote work is people feeling isolated or disconnected from the company. This is why you should try to find ways to unite the team, including social events either virtually or in real life. You should also check in with people on a regular basis to see how they are doing and if there is anything that you can do to help. Crucially, allow them to enjoy the perks of remote work and provide a healthy work-life balance for them.
Hopefully, these tips will come in useful and help you to manage your remote team effectively. Remote work can bring a range of benefits to the business and employees, but it can also be challenging for managers, particularly if you have not managed remote employees before.