How to Manage Remote Teams?

Introduction

Managing remote teams is very different from managing in-person. One can compare it to a long-distance relationship; however, since this is managing a team of professional developers, it does require a unique skill set. 

Hiring remote developers comes as second nature to most firms today; however, what is the true definition of a remote team? 

It is similar to a virtual team and is essentially a group of professionals assigned to your project. They will be typically located in a different location and possibly a different country. It can also be compared to outsourcing.

There is a lot more to remote team management than you may have thought; it means guiding, supporting, working around different timezones and much more. 

This article provides valuable insight into managing remote staff effectively.

What is Remote Team Management?

Managing remote teams is similar to managing a local one and involves tasks like project management, team management, ensuring timely deliverables, effectively managing the work culture and much more. 

Although managing a remote team does share several aspects with having a team on-site, there are also several unique elements. It means having to deal with geographical separation, lack of face-to-face communication, dealing with different time zones as well as building trust with a remote team. 

A remote team manager would ideally be self-aware, more proactive, implement smart reporting, have attention to detail and an ability to build a rapport with the remote members. 

Acquaint Softtech are the experts at providing a highly skilled team of developers for various projects. Hiring remote developers is gaining in popularity, and there are also several statistics to support this. 

Here are a few statistics highlighting the popularity of remote developers:

• The global business outsourcing market is expected to grow to $525 Billion by 2030. 

• IT Services account for over 72% of the global outsourcing contracts. 

• 92% of G2000 companies prefer hiring remote developers.  

• 60% firms trust remote developers for the development of their mobile app.

Types of Challenges in Managing Remote Teams

Managing remote staff introduces many unique challenges that are directly related to productivity, effective communication and timely delivery of a quality product. A project manager with experience managing an on-site team can expect to use special communication tools instead of talking face-to-face. 

It also means having to adopt new methods while managing remote teams and projects as well as the team. However, the benefits of hiring remote developers can more than make up for having to deal with the challenge.

Some of the common challenges with managing remote teams include:

• Adapting to lack of face-to-face communication and using a suitable tool instead.

• Ensuring you hire a remote team with the right skills.

• Accountability. 

• Allowing for more flexibility with the schedules.

• Performance tracing.

• Culture.

• Team building.

• Difference in timezones of the remote team.

• Security and privacy.

• Technical issues.

• Conflict resolution.

• It is more challenging to enforce your rules.

• Communicating the company values and mission.

• Find a project management tool that simplifies remote team management.

Tips to being a great remote manager

Define your responsibilities for remote team management and let the remote team members know what you expect from them. Ensure you define the project structure well in advance. It is a good practice to document your progress as well. The key to a successful project by hiring remote developers is good communication. You must communicate as often as possible and establish a method of regular feedback and reporting progress.

Managing remote teams effectively requires a combination of strategies, tools, and best practices to ensure that the team remains productive, engaged, and cohesive. It is an ongoing process that requires adaptability and strong leadership.

Implementing these strategies and fostering a culture of trust and healthy communication to lead your remote team to success: 

1. Define boundaries: Define boundaries for the team pertaining to the work, timezones and the schedule of the team members. Every firm works differently and expects their team to respond in a specific manner. The ideal method for remote team management is to state your expectations regarding respecting the difference in timezone, availability and means of communication. 

2. Preventive measures for technical issues: Prevent technical problems from delaying your project by accounting for them in advance. It is not uncommon for one to face technical issues during the development stage. This can be pertaining to software development or hardware. Be prepared to provide technical support if and when the need arises to avoid delays in your project. 

3. Embrace diversity: The basis of most conflicts is cultural differences and the inability to understand each other. Avoid this by embracing diversity and respecting every team member's unique requirements. There is bound to be cultural diversity when you hire remote developers from another country. They will have a different attitude towards work and career. Understanding their cultural background will ensure the smooth completion of the project. 

4. Clarify your preferences in advance: Every project manager has a unique method to ensure quality and timely delivery. The common methods include hourly notifications, updates on task complications, weekly reporting, and daily notifications. Besides this, it is likely that everyone has different presences on methods of communication and meetings. Hence, it is best to clarify what is essential for your business from the beginning. 

5. Setup video chat infrastructure: Video chats can improve the level of interactivity, thus improving the project's outcome. Spend some time researching to find the tool that is most suitable for your business needs. Set up the necessary infrastructure to conduct video chats; this will simplify your remote team management tasks tenfold. 

6. Availability: Make yourself available and be reachable to ensure you do not leave the remote developers at a loss of what to do. At the same time, clarify what you expect from the virtual team. They might be on a flexible shift or are only sometimes reachable. The best way to avoid issues that may arise due to availability is to clarify the terms of contactable hours and method of contacting. 

7. Establish trust: Trust is essential for remote teams, as you can't always see what your team members are doing or how they are feeling. You need to trust that they are working hard and delivering quality results, and they need to trust that you are supporting them and giving them the space they need. In fact, trust and transparency are critical elements when managing remote teams that are crucial to the success of your project. It can be achieved by being straightforward about your expectations and their performance. Develop trust and establish accountability to keep your project on track and adhere to your goals and deadlines. 

8. Build a rapport: Build a rapport to ensure the smooth completion of your project. To build a rapport, you need to be transparent, honest, consistent, and fair. You also need to show interest in your team members as an individual, not just as a remote employee. Another method of effective management is to organize team building and social activities to foster a sense of belonging, strengthen team relations and get to know them on a personal level. 

9. Project management tools: Use special tools to manage the team and clear communication. The tools for remote team management have been evolving, streamline project management tasks and offer more features. Hence, there are now several project management tools available. A little research can go a long way in finding the appropriate one for your business. Such tools simply serve several project management tasks. Opting for a remote team does not eliminate the need for a decent plan and robust strategy. 

10. Use technology wisely: Using technology wisely will make a considerable difference and help streamline work, track progress and facilitate teamwork. In fact, the success of remote teams is mainly due to advancements in technology. A little research can mean a lot for your project. Communicate effectively with the remote team you hire regarding the tools and technologies for best results. 

11. Communicate frequently: When managing remote teams it is crucial to inform them about sensitive security issues and the need to keep the data and project secure. This can go a long way towards maintaining privacy and security during the development process.  It is vital that all the remote developers are fully aware of how their work contributes to the overall goal of the team and project. Provide feedback to the remote employee, praise their good work and communicate regularly about their performance. 

12. Motivate: Empower and motivate your team by giving them autonomy, flexibility, and ownership over their work. Avoid micromanagement since this is demotivating, will lead to loss of trust and is essentially counterproductive. 

13. Prioritize communication and accountability: Being easy to approach and maintaining an open line of communication can make a world of difference to the project. By giving weightage to healthy communication and accountability, you can prevent your project from spiralling out of control and be more confident in meeting your deadlines. 

14. Stay alert for red flags: It will work in your favour to keep a lookout for common red flags. Doing so can also ensure the success of our project. Spotting discrepancies or issues early can help you rectify them early and save your project from going downhill. Some of the issues to lookout for include communication issues, irregular reporting, working long hours very often, and lack of motivation. 

At Acquaint Softtech, we have a big pool of talented professionals. Besides, we have good experience working as a remote team for many companies from several industries. We have dedicated teams for website and mobile app development. Acquaint is also one of the few companies in India which is an official Laravel partner. 

Are you in need of top-notch development services but want the flexibility of remote talent? Look no further! Our team of skilled remote developers is here to deliver high-quality solutions tailored to your needs. With a global network of experts, we're ready to take your project to new heights. Get in touch today and discover the benefits of remote development services for your business! Unlock the power of remote development services!

Best Practices for Remote Team Management

Managing a team remotely is no easy task. It is advisable to adopt the following good practices to ensure productivity and team cohesion:

• Build a good rapport: Study a little about the culture of your remote team since this can go a long way in building a good rapport. It is common for individuals to take a back seat in a local office setting; such individuals tend to draw less attention. The same applies to a  team working remotely; however, in this case, it will directly affect the outcome of your project. Thus, it is a good practice to talk to all your team members about matters, either work-related or personal and also gauge their energy levels. 

• Appreciate the good effort: Offer constructive feedback regularly. Recognize and acknowledge good work while providing guidance for improvement. It is a good practice to appreciate the effort of the team members when it calls for it and motivate them regularly. Although this is general practice, it is more applicable when working with a remote team.

• Preventive measures: It takes very little for this type of project to go off-track. Take appropriate precautions to help prevent this. Establish your role and what the remote team might expect from you. Scheduling regular meetings in advance will help you be more organized. Avoid being too rigid; instead, be more open-minded to the input from the team members since it might be suitable for your project. Always treat all the team members equally to avoid any conflict and be empathetic.

• Stress need for security: There is a greater need to stress security and compliance issues.. This is something that needs to be clarified from the very beginning. The best and safest approach would be to establish a set of rules for this purpose. 

• Hire a team that is easy to work with: Hire remote developers or professionals who are a good fit with your organization and do not disrupt your existing setup. You will be required to interact with them at multiple levels; hence, spending some more time finding the right remote workers will work out for the best in the future. 

• Check-in frequently: Make it a practice to check in regularly with the remote team; this might not be for an update or a greeting. It can help increase the bonding among the team members and generate team spirit. 

• Take advantage of technology: Make the most of the technology available to make your life easier while coordinating with the remote team of developers. Project management and communications tools are a must; they are highly featured-rich, thus allowing for flawless interaction and smooth sailing of your project. In fact, it is good technology that has made hiring remote teams so feasible. 

• Make the most of your dedicated team: Take advantage of the fact that the team is isolated from your firm and, thus, allows you to handle your business and all other projects and guide the team at the same time. The team is only focused on your project at all times, thus ensuring it stays on track while you can focus on its outcome. Remote working is still evolving as more firms prefer this method for developing their online solution. Hence, keep an open mind and focus on the project's outcome by utilizing new technologies and the dedicated team at your disposal. 

• Avoid communication confusion: Establish the communication guidelines at the start of the project to avoid confusion in the future. Look for ways to improve the level of communication as the project evolves. 

• Software & tools:  Software tools are a must; some of the popular types of tools that you might want to consider include time-tracking tools, remote work monitors, projects, timesheets, management, budgeting, payroll automation, communication tools, client management, cloud storage & and meeting software.

Conclusion

Managing remote teams effectively is an ongoing process that requires adaptability and strong leadership. It has its challenges, which involve fostering trust and maintaining clear and consistent communication. 

The level of expertise of remote developers you hire will make a considerable difference in how well you are able to manage them. Opting for the developers at Acquaint Softtech will ensure you receive high-quality solutions.

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