Since the appearance of remote work in the limelight, it has gained several fans and critics. While it speaks of advantages, both with employees and employers, concerning cost, productivity, and work-life balance, remote work also has drawbacks.
To achieve its full potential, we listed down the five deadliest mistakes to avoid managing a remote team.
Communication is probably the most crucial element in working afar. It is expressed through gestures, facial expressions, and even tone of voice. The absence of these kinds of communication usually leads to misinterpretation and conflict.
One thing about communication in remote work is that it only roams around work most of the time. It lacks the day-to-day small talk in a typical workplace that gives a light and lively aura.
What managers can do is to be frequently in touch with the team and to schedule some one-on-ones with each member from time to time.
Clear goals strengthen the company’s vision. It saves the team’s time and effort in figuring out what they need to do. Remote work, unlike the traditional work set-up, allows flexibility. Explicit assumptions make it easier for employees to work independently, achieve small goals, and contribute to more significant success.
Feedbacks yield positive results, may it be criticism or commendation. It opens doors for clear expectations and learnings. Most managers thought that scheduled performance reviews through a piece of paper and short feedback are enough. Employees nowadays desire more critiques and advice to help them do their jobs better.
Aside from the experience that employees gain from doing their everyday tasks, they are hungry for more learnings and opportunities outside their routine jobs.
Leadership is a challenging role, let alone when it comes to managing a remote team. The limited communication and interaction make working remotely even more demanding. Low team management strategies and leadership practices may lead to numerous difficulties that might affect the team.
Acknowledging the team’s struggles is an effective way of handling the team better. At the end of the day, we all have hurdles to jump.
“Time is gold” is probably the most accurate quotation ever, yet many still don’t value it as much as we should do. In a remote working team, time is vital as it has always been. The team may be composed of various individuals but regardless of position, peak productivity hours, or preferred time, a set deadline should be met, and schedules should be followed.
Digitalscouting Team has been working remotely since day one. We’ve been helping CEOs, decision-makers, and industry leaders manage a remote team of their own based on the tools and strategies that gave proven effective results.
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