Dos and Don’ts of Managing a Remote Team

Dos And Don'ts Of Managing A Remote Team

COVID-19 has affected millions of lives. Many businesses were taken by surprise and forced to adapt to the situation. That is why a lot of individuals find themselves working remotely nowadays. As the world still struggles to handle the coronavirus pandemic, working remotely may be necessary for the foreseeable future. While there are companies that have been practicing this setup, many are still new to it and have not totally adjusted accordingly.

Managing a Remote Team

If you own a single-member LLC, chances are that you are juggling multiple responsibilities. Being the sole owner, you are the only one making the big decisions. You also have to look for ways to keep your business running or grow its operations during this crisis. At the same time, you have to be able to manage your team properly to ensure efficiency and productivity.

Leaders who are used to working in offices have most likely created a routine. You know how to approach each member. The whole team has a work dynamic that was formed after a long time. The problem now is that you no longer have the luxury to interact face-to-face. You have to rely on technology and hope that your team receives the message clearly.

Things You Should Do

Keep in mind that you and your team may be on the same boat right now. All of you are trying to adjust, so you must help everyone remain motivated despite the challenges at hand.

Here are some of the things you should do when managing a remote team:

  • Hire independent and skilled workers. If you are thinking of hiring employees, choose those that can work independently and have initiative. Finding individuals with the right mindset will be beneficial to you. You may even end up getting competitive team members who can work for you for a long time. You may also check their prior experience before choosing. There are people with extensive work experience in similar roles.
  • Use communication tools and sharing software. There are online tools that allow you to connect to your team and collaborate despite the distance. Try Google Docs, Slack, or any other similar tools that cater to a remote workforce.
  • Have a systematic and effective way of communicating. Communication is crucial when it comes to business operations. To overcome the challenges of telecommuting, create a unified internal team communication process. Include concerns like managers reaching out to employees, workers raising concerns, and proper way of responding.
  • Clarify your goals and expectations. All members of the team should understand the goals of your company, be they short-term, mid-term, or long-term. You also have to make sure that they know what you expect from them. Understanding what they need to accomplish can push team members to cooperate. You can create a private online page that only you and remote team members can access. Use it to keep track of goals and progress. Seeing tasks getting crossed out on the list can also motivate them. It will help to have scheduled meetings as well to see if all of you are on the same page.

Things to Avoid

There are also things you should not do when managing a remote team. Here are some of them:

  • Don’t rush the hiring process. While you may need help as soon as possible, it is still wise to take the time to choose new team members. This way, you can have individuals who work well on their own.
  • Don’t have too many meetings. Some business owners may think that having extra meetings can compensate for the limited opportunities for face-to-face interactions. However, doing this may waste the time of your members and prevent them from focusing on their tasks. Make sure that all scheduled meetings are valuable.
  • Don’t micromanage your team. Your remote team should be able to thrive with minimal guidance. While it is necessary to provide support, breathing down their necks may cause frustration. 
  • Don’t focus on the clock. Some roles require team members to be available during a certain set schedule, but there are tasks that do not require this. If the roles are project-focused, avoid getting hung up on your team members’ daily schedule. Instead, you should focus on whether they deliver the output expected of them on time.

Managing a remote team for your single-member LLC can be hard. The challenges you might face are different from what you may be used to. Your actions as a leader can either motivate or stress out your employees.