Building and sustaining collaborative, interconnected teams is always a challenge. However, it has become even more challenging with the rise of distributed global workforces. In today’s workplaces, traditional boundaries are shifting, and remote work is becoming increasingly common. According to a study by the International Workplace Group, 70% of professionals work remotely at least one day a week, while 53% work remotely for half of the week.
While the benefits of remote work are undeniable, managing a distributed team can be challenging. Remote workers often feel isolated, disconnected, and unsupported, which can lead to poor productivity and low employee morale. However, establishing effective strategies for managing remote teams can lead to higher engagement, increased productivity, and better team collaboration.
Employee engagement
According to a 2022 Gallup survey, only 32% of employees are engaged at work. Employee engagement is vital for the success of a team, but remote workers often struggle to remain engaged in their work. The absence of face-to-face communication, social interactions, and recognition for their contributions can all contribute to disengagement.
To improve employee engagement in a distributed team, it is essential to establish regular communication channels and recognize the contributions of all team members, regardless of their location. Managers should ensure that remote employees have access to the same tools, information, and support as on-site workers to help them feel more engaged in their work.
Understanding Employee Work
To provide remote workers with the support and resources they need to succeed, team leaders must first understand their employees’ work. By gaining an understanding of their employees’ roles and responsibilities, managers can identify potential roadblocks and provide the necessary resources and tools to assist their team members.
In addition to understanding employee work, team leaders must also develop a supportive culture that encourages open communication and feedback. Remote employees should feel comfortable reaching out to their managers for support, guidance, and feedback. Providing regular check-ins and touchpoints with remote workers can also help ensure that team leaders are aware of any potential issues before they become significant problems.
Team Workflow and Focus
Understanding team workflow and focus is essential for collaborative problem-solving. Effective collaboration depends on shared understanding of goals, timelines, roles, and responsibilities. Therefore, team leaders must ensure that all team members are aware of their roles and the team’s workflow.
One way to establish a shared understanding of team workflow and focus is to use collaboration tools that facilitate effective communication and information sharing. Remote team members must have access to the same information as on-site employees, and there should be clear lines of communication for project updates and feedback.
Regular meetings
Regular meetings are a crucial element of managing a distributed team’s outcomes and results. Team leaders must establish consistent individual and team meetings to monitor progress and provide feedback. These meetings should occur at regular intervals to avoid missing critical updates and problem-solving opportunities.
Establishing a regular meeting rhythm allows managers to identify potential issues before they become significant problems. This approach also helps team members stay on track and helps remote workers feel more connected and supported.
One of the biggest challenges of managing distributed teams is inconsistency. Often, remote employees can feel disconnected when their managers are inconsistent with their communication or feedback. To address this, team leaders must be intentional about providing regular communication and feedback to remote employees.
To facilitate effective management, managers must commit to managing results and outcomes through consistent meetings and connections with all employees. Leaders must also hold themselves accountable and provide regular feedback to their team members. This approach helps ensure that remote employees receive the same level of support as on-site workers.
Strong collaboration
Strong collaboration often emerges when people are appropriately involved in conversations that affect their work. Encouraging employees to take ownership and accountability can create a culture of collaboration and teamwork. This approach helps distributed teams overcome feelings of disengagement and isolation.
When employees take ownership of their work and engage in discussions with their team members, they feel more connected and invested in the team’s success. This approach leads to better outcomes, a more positive team culture, and higher team morale.
Distributed Team Challenges
One of the biggest challenges of managing a remote team is the sense of isolation that remote workers can experience. Remote employees can often struggle with feelings of disconnectedness from the team, which can lead to low morale, burnout, and decreased productivity.
To overcome these challenges, it’s essential to create an environment in which remote workers can connect with their coworkers on a personal, human, and social level. Team leaders must facilitate opportunities for remote employees to connect and build relationships with their colleagues.
Facilitating Connections
To facilitate connections, team leaders can regularly schedule online team building events, have personal check-ins with remote employees, or encourage their team members to join online communities of professionals in their field. This approach helps create a more inclusive and collaborative work environment, which leads to higher engagement and better outcomes.
In conclusion, building and managing an empowered distributed team is a vital aspect of today’s constantly evolving workplaces. To establish a successful remote team culture, team leaders must prioritize consistent communication and source tools to allow them to be more connected and inclusive to their remote workers.
It is essential to understand your employees’ work and collaborate with your team to identify and solve problems. Regular and consistent individual and team meetings that review accomplishments and identify challenges are critical to managing results and outcomes. Along with this, establishing opportunities for employees to connect on a personal, human, and social level is crucial. Remember, consistency is the key to creating an empowered distributed team where people feel engaged and supported.
