10 Tips to Support and Optimize
Remote Team Productivity
Remote work has changed the way people build and manage teams around the world. The coming of the pandemic has sped up this process even more.
While every business is different, some aspects are universal. These guidelines can help create a strong remote team culture.
1. Get The Best Software and Tech Tools in Place
The best tools for remote work function are a virtual office. You can use them to make you more productive and effective in working with remote team members.
Phones, computers, project management software, and conferencing tools are a few examples of what a business might need. Work out which software is best for your business and invest in the highest quality. Also, make sure you engage an IT service that has extensive experience helping remote teams like yours operate successfully. A company of the size and expertise of tct.com.au is a great place to start looking.
2. Follow The “One-Touch” Principle
Give remote team members all the information they need before making decisions when communicating with them. Think of it as a “one-touch” principle. If you send or share multiple messages or documents without receiving feedback, wait until you receive it before sending anything else.
3. Make Regular Check-ins
Periodically checking in with remote team members serve as a reminder that you’re working together and a chance to highlight any problems early. You should check in whenever something important needs to be decided upon. If it’s not possible to have a phone call, use email or instant messaging instead. Using video conferencing should always be the first choice when it’s available.
4. Build Trust Quickly and Show Genuine Interest in Your Team Members
Your business can’t function without trust between team members, so it should be at the forefront of every engagement with your team members. Take time out from your schedule to learn more about each person individually, rather than just their role. Having a 1:1 meeting is a good way to do this.
5. Keep It Focused and Strategic with Targeted Meetings
Targeted meetings are more effective than having a meeting every time you need to get information from your remote team.
Make sure that the meeting is the right platform for the topic and that it’ll have a clear outcome. For example, if you just email a few options for an upcoming business trip, don’t call a meeting with all of them to discuss it in person.
6. Make Sure Communication Is Crystal Clear
Remote work can be useful when teams live in different countries or even when time zones are apart from each other. However, this type of communication requires extra effort to ensure messages are clear. It’s very easy for messages to be misunderstood because of barriers such as cultural differences and language problems. Using plain wording is important to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. You should use technology tools that are easy to understand, operate, and adapt.
7. Manage Impromptu Interruptions or Distractions with Open Communication and Accessibility
While it might not always be possible to schedule a meeting with every team member at the same time, try to communicate your availability. If there’s a lot of movement in the company resulting in lots of different people knocking on your door, take a few minutes to update others about it and when it’s best for you to have discussions or answer questions.
8. Create A Culture of Collaboration and Cooperation
Remote work can be isolating, so it’s important to make sure that team members have an outlet to meet and share their ideas. In a traditional office, this might be a common lunchroom or coffee room. In a remote team, you can create this atmosphere by being responsive to your team’s needs and having the tools they need to communicate.
9. Be Open and Accept Feedback
Don’t take anything personally when it comes to receiving feedback from remote team members. The only way you will know what works for them is if they tell you to listen attentively and ask them how you can work towards making their experience better. If there’s something that’s working well, don’t hesitate to say thanks – praises go a long way in making people feel valued.
10. Make All Remote Team Communication Appear Personal and Professional
You may have to take extra steps, so remote team members feel comfortable with their managers and other employees. While you don’t want to change who you are, you should consider adopting or adjusting your communication style, so it fits in better with the remote office environment.
Conclusion
The key to working with remote team members is communication. It takes a bit more effort than working in an office, but it also offers many benefits. If you make use of the tips and tricks mentioned in this article, you’ll soon see that success comes from making your business flexible and agile which can mean increased productivity and efficiency for your company.
