Do you know, GitLab has over 1,200 team members from all over the world working entirely remotely? With a $6 billion valuation and a recent IPO, they have also experienced incredible success in recent years. Amazing isn’t it? 

Working remotely has become the new norm in today’s world, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent survey by Buffer, 98% of remote workers want to continue working remotely in some capacity for the rest of their careers.

With so much positivity remote management or teamwork, however, comes with its own set of challenges. Managing remote teams can be difficult as communication and collaboration can become more challenging which can impact overall productivity and employee morale.

But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to overcome these challenges and make remote teamwork a success. In this article, we will explore the best Best remote team management tips of companies that have successfully implemented remote work practices. 

Whether you’re new to remote work or a seasoned pro, this article will provide you with valuable insights on how to build a successful remote team. 

Let’s dive in!

Benefits of Remote Team Management

Although leading a remote team can initially seem difficult, there are actually many advantages. Let’s look at some of the main advantages of managing remote teams:

Increased productivity

Team members are frequently more productive when given the freedom to set their own schedules and work in their preferred settings. This is because of the flexibility that comes with working remotely. 

Buffer, a social media management company, discovered that remote workers produced 1.4 more workdays on average each month than their coworkers in offices.

Team members frequently have more control over their work environment when they are permitted to work from home or another convenient location. This may result in more concentration and productivity. 

Cost savings

Managing remote teams can help businesses cut costs. Companies can save on rent, utilities, and other costs related to a brick-and-mortar workspace when a physical office is not required. Since they don’t need as much equipment or resources as office-based employees, remote employees are frequently more cost-effective.

For instance, Automattic, the organization that created WordPress, works entirely remotely and has saved millions of dollars by doing so. Additionally, Zapier, a software company with a 100% remote workforce, predicts that it can save each employee about $10,000 annually on office-related costs.

Access to a wider talent pool

Accessing a larger talent pool is probably one of the biggest benefits of managing remote teams. The best candidates for the job can be hired by businesses regardless of where they live once geography is no longer a factor. This may result in a team that is more skilled and diverse.

Basecamp, a project management software provider, has a 100% remote team with personnel dispersed across the globe. They’ve been able to assemble a strong and diverse team by hiring talented team members from a range of backgrounds and locations.

Common Challenges of Remote Team Management

While there are many benefits to remote team management, there are also some common challenges that come with it. Let’s examine some of the most common challenges and how to overcome them:

Communication and Collaboration

Communication and collaboration are two of the biggest difficulties in managing remote teams. It can be challenging to make sure everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals when there is no face-to-face interaction. 

The following are some barriers to cooperation and communication:

• Misunderstandings may result from a lack of face-to-face communication.
• Understand one another when people communicate in different ways.

Setting clear expectations and goals

Clearly defining expectations and goals for remote teams is another frequent problem. It can be challenging to make sure everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities and to clearly communicate expectations. In order to define expectations and goals in detail, consider the following: 

• Team members may become confused and unmotivated in the absence of clear expectations and objectives.
• Cultural differences can influence expectations and presumptions.

Tracking team progress and productivity

Monitoring progress and making sure everyone is staying productive can be challenging when team members are working remotely. Here are some pointers for monitoring team development and output:

• It can be challenging to monitor team development and output without a physical presence.
• Insufficient trust can result in micromanagement and overzealous monitoring

Building trust and rapport

It can be difficult for remote teams to build rapport and trust because there isn’t any face-to-face interaction. The following advice will help you build rapport and trust with remote teams:

• Lack of in person interaction can make it challenging to establish rapport and trust.
• Communication problems and misunderstandings can be brought on by cultural differences.

Managing time zone differences

Coordinating meetings and making sure everyone is on the same schedule can be difficult if your remote team is spread out across multiple time zones. Following are some pointers for adjusting to time zone differences:

• It can be challenging to schedule meetings and coordinate tasks due to different time zones.
• Delays and communication problems may result from a lack of overlap in working hours. 

Tips for Effective Remote Team Management

Communication and Collaboration

Video conferencing 

Even if you are not physically present with your team members, video conferencing is a great way to connect with them face-to-face. It enables you to forge stronger bonds with your team members and makes sure that everyone is operating from the same playbook.

Video conferencing tools: Face-to-face connections with your team members via Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype can enhance collaboration and communication.

Instant messaging

You can stay in touch with your team members all day long by using instant messaging tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams. Without calling a meeting, you can use them to quickly share updates, ask questions, and offer feedback.

Instant messaging tools: You can communicate quickly and effectively by using instant messaging apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp. These tools let you communicate in real time, share information, and collaborate.

Clear communication protocols

Establishing clear communication protocols within your team, such as how frequently you’ll hold team meetings, how team members should communicate with each other, and how they should escalate issues or concerns, is essential if you want everyone to know what is expected of them.

For example, you could establish a protocol requiring team members to respond to emails within 24 hours or to regularly update you on their progress toward achieving their goals.

Share updates and progress regularly

You can stay up to date on team activities by encouraging your team members to communicate updates and progress on a regular basis. This can assist you in spotting potential problems or areas for improvement before they turn into more serious issues.

For instance, you might request that your team members submit a weekly progress report outlining their recent accomplishments, current projects, and difficulties they are currently facing. 

Setting Clear Expectations and Goals

To keep everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals, it’s crucial to set clear expectations and goals for a remote team. Without them, team members may not know what is expected of them, which can reduce productivity and engagement.

Clear job roles and responsibilities

As a remote team manager, one of the most crucial things you can do is to define clear job roles and responsibilities. It is simpler to manage and evaluate everyone’s performance when everyone is aware of their responsibilities and what is expected of them. 

Take your remote writing team as an example. It is essential to understand who is in charge of writing, editing, and publishing. Everyone will be clear about their responsibilities, making it simpler to monitor progress and enforce accountability.

Set SMART goals 

Another crucial component of remote team management is the establishment of SMART goals. SMART objectives are clear, quantifiable, attainable, pertinent, and time-bound. These objectives also enable you to monitor your progress and, if necessary, alter your course. 

For example, if your remote team is working on a project, set SMART goals that align with the project’s overall objectives. This will assist everyone in staying on task and concentrated on the final objective.

Encourage feedback and open communication

Encouragement of open dialogue and criticism regarding objectives and expectations is crucial. Ask your team members how they are doing on a regular basis. Are they on course to meet their objectives? Are there any obstacles they must overcome? 

Giving your team members feedback can help them realize where they stand and what they need to do to get better. It’s also a great chance to allay any worries they may have and, if necessary, modify expectations.

Tracking Team Progress and Productivity

Think of yourself as the team leader of a distributed group of software engineers. You can make a project in Asana and give each developer a task to complete. You can establish due dates and keep tabs on the status of each task. This method makes it simple to locate any bottlenecks and make sure your team is moving forward. 

Use project management tools

For remote team managers, project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp can be a lifesaver. You can make tasks, assign them to team members, and set deadlines using these tools. Additionally, you can monitor each task’s development and keep everyone informed.

Here are some suggestions to make managing your remote team much simpler:

• The tool you select should be simple to use, have the features you require, and be within your price range.
• After selecting your tool, spend some time assembling your team, establishing projects, assigning tasks, and establishing workflows.
• Project management tools are only useful if your team as a whole is trained to use them and given support.
• To track progress, update tasks, and communicate with one another, make sure that everyone on your team uses the tool consistently.
• Utilize your project management software to regularly review progress and make adjustments as necessary. 

Use time-tracking tools  

You can keep an eye on your team’s output using time-tracking tools like RescueTime, Toggl, and Hubstaff. These tools enable you to monitor the amount of time your team spends on each task and pinpoint potential time-wasting areas.

Here are some tips for tracking team progress and productivity:

• Utilize time-tracking software to keep track of hours worked and task progress.
• Plan frequent check-ins to talk about progress and address any problems or worries.
• To ensure that team members are attentive and productive, use tools like RescueTime or Focus@Will.

Encourage transparency and accountability

When leading a remote team, transparency and accountability are essential. You must make sure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and expectations.

For instance, you can work together on design projects with tools like Figma or Sketch if you’re in charge of a remote team of designers. You can motivate your team members to communicate their advancement to the rest of the group and to give frequent updates. 

Building Trust and Rapport

Any team’s success depends on developing rapport and trust, especially when working remotely. There, we’ll go over three practical strategies for fostering rapport and trust among distant team members.

Schedule regular team-building activities

Team-building exercises can improve communication and foster closer bonds among remote workers. To foster a sense of camaraderie among your team members, set aside time each week for online games and virtual team-building activities like virtual coffee breaks.

Encourage team members to get to know each other on a personal level

Team members generally work better together when they get to know one another personally. Encourage your team members to talk about their personal interests, hobbies, and life stories during virtual meetings. 

Additionally, you can designate a virtual area where team members can communicate and exchange private updates.

Establish a culture of trust and open communication

Any successful relationship is built on trust, and remote teams are no different. Make sure that communication is transparent, honest, and open in order to create a culture of trust. Encourage team members to openly express their worries and difficulties, and make sure to promptly address them.

Managing Time Zone Differences

One of the hardest management tasks is managing a remote team that is spread out across different time zones. It can be challenging to organize meetings, deadlines, and effective communication when your team is dispersed across the world. 

But don’t worry, you can manage time zone differences and make sure that your remote team functions like an efficient machine by using the right strategies.

Establish a clear schedule

Setting up a clear schedule for team meetings and communication is crucial. Setting specific times for online meetings like video calls, chat sessions, and email updates entails this. 

Make certain that everyone on the team is aware of the schedule and knows what is expected of them. Additionally, make sure to send out reminders for appointments and deadlines to ensure that nobody forgets or is inconvenienced. 

Use time zone conversion tools 

In order to avoid confusion, time zone conversion tools can be useful. You can quickly and easily convert between different time zones using a number of online tools, including World Time Buddy and Timezone.io. 

Ensure that all team members have access to these resources and are knowledgeable about how to use them. Following are some pointers for adjusting to time zone differences:

• Meetings across time zones can be scheduled using World Time Buddy or Timezone.io tools.
• To account for various time zones, think about switching up your meeting times.
• Use asynchronous communication channels like email or Slack to share crucial information that can be accessed whenever it is needed.

Adjusting work hours or schedules

If your team members are spread out across different time zones, you might consider staggered work schedules to give everyone some time to catch up with the rest of the group. By doing so, you can make sure that you can communicate with one another, hold meetings, and work together efficiently.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our article on the best remote team management tips. We sincerely hope that the details were instructive and useful. 

These suggestions can help you manage remote teams more effectively while also increasing productivity, reducing costs, and gaining access to a larger talent pool.

Start small if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Choose a tip that speaks to you and concentrate on putting it into practice on a regular basis. The other strategies can be gradually added as you gain momentum.

And keep in mind that you’re not alone if you ever feel stuck or unsure of how to move forward. Online resources abound and range from blogs and forums to webinars and courses. So don’t be afraid to ask for assistance and direction when you need it.

We hope this article has motivated you to advance your knowledge of managing remote teams. You can build a successful remote team that produces excellent results by implementing the best practices we’ve discussed here. Good fortune!