Running a remote team can be a great way to grow your business. It has numerous benefits over hiring an in-house team, including reduced costs and access to a broader talent pool. However, it can also be an adjustment if you’re used to face-to-face interactions with your staff. With the following five tips from Yap Cafe, you will be ready to seize the reins for successfully creating and managing your remote team.
1) Invest in Unified Communications
ZenBusiness has a few great suggestions for managing your remote team, and you probably won’t be surprised to learn that communication is the key to business. When you are working remotely, you need to have the right tools to connect and collaborate. Unified communications solutions are often the right option for businesses whose team members are spread apart. These platforms centralize your communication whether you need to use text chat, voice calls or video conferences.
Getting in the habit of staying in touch online will make the remote work process much easier. Lifesize suggests that video calls tend to be especially important for remote teams, allowing members to reduce redundancy, raise collaboration and enhance company culture.
2) Create Computer-Enabled Workflows
Your business workflows will need to be ready for the remote working environment. Fortunately, there are many tools that can help with this. For many teams, the most important element is being able to create, share and manage documents online. In many industries, there are work-specific tools that can help.
Additionally, it is helpful to have a good project management system. This should be more than just a tool you can use over the internet. You also need to have the right processes in place for planning, tracking and reviewing project progress.
3) Place Trust in Team Members
Remote teams don’t just need the right technology and processes, they also need the right culture. Team trust can play a huge role in being able to operate effectively when you aren’t seeing each other every day.
This starts at the top. If you trust your employees to do their work in a timely and efficient manner, they are more likely to. Additionally, they are more likely to trust each other. It can be tempting to micromanage when working remotely. However, you should avoid this temptation. Low trust can easily make a work environment feel very toxic and unpleasant.
4) Provide Devices
Many business teams consider switching to a “bring your own device” model when going remote. This may seem like a good way to save money. However, The Balance points out BYOD can be more frustrating than it is helpful, especially with remote teams.
The problem with this arrangement is that everyone needs to connect to your systems using devices that they completely control. If they need help getting set up, it may be hard for your IT staff to do so. They may also accidentally cause security risks. This arrangement can work for small teams in some cases. However, it is often best to provide appropriate devices that are pre-configured with the necessary software. It’s also wise to protect any laptops or tablets with a sturdy case to prevent damage.
5) Think Digital Throughout Your Operations
A lot of teams just focus on their internal workflows when transitioning to remote. However, it can be beneficial to think about leveraging outside expertise throughout your business operations. For example, it is helpful to build up your online marketing and sales, as strong branding comes from within. To that end, consider investing in a robust content marketing strategy. With the right content marketing help, you can draw in new customers using everything from blog posts to audiobooks.
Ready to incorporate your business? Online formation services have the expertise required to complete this task so you can concentrate on running your business. When you incorporate, you’ll limit your liability and gain tax advantages, and it may be easier to raise capital.
Start Building Your Remote Team Today
Building a remote team from the ground up may require some acclimatization. However, a few well-chosen tools and strategies will make a world of difference. Set aside your worries and focus on the many positives you can gain, and soon you’ll be guiding your new team to success.
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