Building a remote team is the dream of many entrepreneurs. However, it is not as simple as just hiring people in different locations. If you are new to this, you might find yourself in hot water without even realizing it. The good news is you can have an awesome distributed team that functions like a well-oiled machine. Keep reading if you are already running a distributed team and things are not running smoothly. You will find ideas by Bill Schantz on how to manage a remote team so that your team reaches its full potential.
5 Effective Tips on How to Manage a Remote Team
1. Communicate Clearly and Often
If you manage a remote team, you probably would not have face-to-face meetings with your employees every day. That means the best way to ensure they are getting their work done is by communicating clearly and often. This is especially important if your team members work on multiple projects at once because it is easy to get confused about what should be prioritized.
2. Do Not Micromanage
You have probably heard this advice from Bill Schantz before, but it is particularly salient when your team does their work remotely. If you have a good relationship with your employees and they have proven themselves trustworthy, trust them to do their job. If you do not trust them, you have bigger problems on your hands and will never learn how to manage a remote team.
3. Set Realistic Goals
Unrealistic deadlines and unreachable goals can lead to burnout, which can spell disaster for a remote team. If team member feels burned out or frustrated, they will lose their drive and motivation. No one wants that as it can cause unproductivity and even destroy the company culture you have worked so hard to build. Schantz believes that your team will be more productive by setting realistic goals. They will be able to achieve the goals they set, which will encourage them to set higher and higher goals.
4. Use a Collaborative Project Management Tool
Collaborative project management software gives you the ability to manage projects from a central location. Remote team members can access this central location to see their current projects and communicate with each other. Collaborative project management tools also provide a clear record of what has been done, who has done it, and when completed. This is important for accountability and performance management. Moreover, if someone misses a deadline, you can use the tool to see where they are in the process and identify which process steps need improvement.
5. Promote Work-Life Balance
When managing remote teams, it is important to make sure your workers are happy and productive. Allowing them the flexibility to work from anywhere can be a good way, but it is also important to keep an eye on their workload and make sure they are not overworking themselves. Moreover, encourage your team members to take time off and avoid working late. For more information, visit Bill Schantz’s website.
Summing Up
There are many aspects of knowing how to manage a remote team. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to avoid those challenges altogether. Still, there are things you can do to mitigate their impact and make the best work environment for all of your employees, regardless of their location. Hopefully, these pointers will be useful to you!
