9 Powerful Guides on How to Manage Remote Teams Virtually

Remote teams are more common than ever before, but keeping everyone on the same page can be challenging. Over the years, the number of companies that outsource or have employees working remotely has grown exponentially.

There are plenty of advantages to having a remote team. However, some challenges come with managing a remote team. It cannot be easy to keep everyone on the same page when you’re not in the same office, and it’s also more challenging to build team camaraderie virtually.

Why Remote Teams?

If your business is contemplating getting a remote team or working from home, it’s essential to understand both pros and cons before making a decision. 

With technological advances, there's no need to be in the same physical space as your team members to get work done. More and more companies are going remote and are seeing the benefits of doing so.

Here are some key advantages of having a remote team:

1. You can hire the best talent from anywhere in the world.

2. There’s no need for office space.

3. You can work around the clock.

4. You’ll have increased flexibility and freedom.

5. You can attract a more diverse workforce.

6. You can reduce costs.

While there are plenty of advantages to working with a remote team, you can battle challenges that may come ahead. Let us discuss nine powerful guides on how you can manage a remote team virtually.

9 Powerful Guides on How to Manage Remote Teams Virtually

Like in a traditional work setting, success in managing a remote team lies in clear and consistent communication, a common goal, and a bit of creativity.

1. Keep the lines of communication open at all times.

This is the most important thing you can do when managing a remote team. You must be able to reach your team members at all times, and they need to be able to contact you. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most important thing is to find what works best for your team.

Communication tools like Skype,  Slack, and GoToMeeting can be beneficial for keeping everyone on the same page and ensuring everyone is always in the loop.

2. Establish clear objectives and expectations.

When remote workers don’t clearly understand what they need to do, it can lead to frustration on both ends. Ensure you set clear objectives and expectations for your team members before they start working.

This will help them understand what is expected of them and give them a better sense of direction. It will also make it easier for you to hold them accountable if they don’t meet your expectations.

3. Set up a regular schedule of check-ins and updates.

If you’re managing a remote team, you can’t just sit back and hope everything runs smoothly. You need to be proactive and check in with your team members regularly.

At the very least, you should have a weekly check-in where you review progress and offer feedback. But depending on the size of your team and the nature of your project, you may need to check in more frequently.

In Virtudesk, for example, the marketing director conducts a weekly meeting to gather progress reports and action plans for the following week. These regular check-ins help ensure everyone is on track and identify potential problems early on.

4. Encourage transparency and collaboration.

When team members work remotely, it’s vital to encourage transparency and collaboration. This means creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and offering feedback.

There are a few different ways to do this, but one of the best ways is to use a project management tool like Asana, Trello, ClickUp, or Basecamp. These tools make it easy for team members to see what everyone is working on and offer a place for collaboration. You can also track assignments' progress and provide real-time feedback.

5. Use the right tools to facilitate communication and collaboration.

As we’ve already mentioned, communication and collaboration are crucial to success when managing a remote team. But for these things to happen, you must have the right tools.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great tools out there that can help you facilitate communication and collaboration. A few of our favorites include Slack, Google Meet, and Zoom.

For university professors monitoring their course content online, a tool like CourseHealth, equipped with Copyright Content Monitoring System (CCMS), can be best used, especially when looking for immorally distributed content. Having the right tools in place will make it much easier for you to manage your remote team and keep everyone on the same page.

6. Promote a healthy work-life balance.

When team members work remotely, it can be easy for them to get caught up in work and forget about their personal life. This is why it’s essential to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Encourage your team members to take breaks, go for walks, and spend time with their family and friends. This will help them stay focused and productive when they are working. At the same time, it will help them avoid burnout.

In a statement, Coach Roman Ivanov acknowledged that the 'right balance is the way to build a business, and hiring people would help agents to achieve their goals.'

7. Foster a sense of belonging and community.

To feel that you belong is the key to happiness at work. When team members work remotely, it can be challenging to feel like they belong. This is why it’s essential to foster a sense of community.

One way to do this is to create a virtual office where team members can chat, share ideas, and collaborate. You can also hold virtual happy hours, team-building exercises, and other social events.

Another great way to foster a sense of community is to use a tool like Donut. This tool pairs team members up for coffee chats, lunch dates, and other social activities. This is a great way to help team members get to know each other and build relationships.

8. Recognize and celebrate successes.

It’s important to recognize and celebrate successes, both big and small. When team members feel appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and productive.

There are a few different ways to do this. You can send out congratulatory emails, give shout-outs in team meetings, or even offer small rewards like gift cards. Whatever you do, make sure you are genuine and sincere.

Recognizing and celebrating successes is a great way to show your team that you appreciate their hard work. It’s also a great way to build morale and keep everyone motivated.

9. Address challenges and setbacks openly and honestly.

No team is perfect. There will be challenges and setbacks along the way. But it’s essential to address these things openly and honestly.

If you try to sweep problems under the rug, they will only fester and grow. But if you address them head-on, you can find solutions and move forward.

When challenges and setbacks arise, open a dialogue with your team. See what they think about the situation and how it should be handled. This will help you get to the root of the problem and find a resolution.

Indeed, managing a remote team can be challenging. But it can also be gratifying, not to mention the savings you can get from overhead costs. These savings can be used for employee training and development, further improving your team’s performance.

Most importantly, remember that communication is critical. When team members feel like they are part of the process and their voices are heard, they are more likely to be engaged and productive. So, make sure you keep the lines of communication open.

At Virtudesk, we ensure that everyone on our team feels like they are part of the process. Virtual assistants are treated like full-fledged team members, not just glorified assistants. This helps them feel appreciated and motivated to do their best work.

If you’re looking for a virtual assistant to help with your business, we can help you and form a remote team that is the perfect fit for your business. Fill out this form, and one of our Consultants will get in touch.

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