Managing Remote Teams: Working Together To Achieve Common Goals!

Prior to the advent of virtual presence, teams had to be present in the same place for efficient working. Fortunately, technology has made it possible to achieve similar goals even if people live thousands of miles away.
The internet has brought us closer. Although they may live on different continents, speak other languages, and come from different cultures, the team members share the same drive to excel.

This sounds great for organizations, but it can be challenging to manage such teams, even for experienced leaders.

These challenges can be overcome if you keep these simple points in your mind.

1. Get along the right people

The right team can work from faraway galaxies. Before shortlisting candidates for your task, be sure to look for these traits:

Team members must be self-motivated. They should be able to work on their own.

Communication skills are essential for individuals. Because contact is rarely made, workers need to be able to communicate well with others. They should also be proficient in web technologies like skype or webcams.

Team members must be goal-oriented. They must be able and willing to set realistic goals. They should feel comfortable when being evaluated against key performance indicators.

Team members must be open and honest. When it comes to solving problems, they should be trustworthy.

2. Defining the purpose of the team

This works great for geographically dispersed teams to come together around a common goal. The team goals should be agreed upon by all team members.

This is why a team charter is so important. This is essentially a team roadmap that helps everyone stay on track from the beginning.

The SMART framework is the basis of the team charter. These are its key attributes:

* Please refer to the Specifications

* Measurable

* Attainable

* Relevant

* Limitations on time

When there are obstacles, the team charters can be very useful. Working from remote locations, for example, can cause stress and loss of focus. A team charter can boost morale and bring back workers.

3.  Developing strong team dynamics

It doesn’t matter if you are creating a new team or adding members to an existing one; it is essential to understand team dynamics. It is challenging to manage team relations in shared offices, but it becomes even more challenging when the team is spread across the globe.

These warning signs can help you improve team dynamics.

Reduction in output
Emails that are short and indifferent
Participation in conference calls should be avoided
Lack of innovative ideas for work
You should take immediate action if you find yourself in such a situation. There are many options. Most teams adhere to:

Forming
Storming
Norming
Perform
This strategy should be followed immediately after team formation. You should identify the stage at which your team is at and then work according to it.

4. Performance reward and feedback

Feedback is a vital tool to improve team morale and performance. If employees are geographically dispersed, feedback is even more crucial.

Keep in touch with your colleagues. It is easier to check on an employee’s work in a shared office environment and praise him for his excellent work. If the employee is on a different continent, however, the feedback portal will be more formal. You can schedule a call or send feedback by email.

Feedback must be fair and consistent.

Be fair and equal in your incentive programs. This will increase loyalty and boost performance.

5. Team bonding

It is essential to have a close-knit team. This is just as important as choosing the right workers. All team members should be committed to the exact cause. The manager as a leader must find creative ways to bring people closer.

Here are some ideas:

Create a forum page on the intranet. To make your workplace more personal, include photos of team members.

Create a virtual team space. This is equivalent to the coffee-break room in your office. Employees can have fun and share information with one another.

Acceptance of linguistic differences is critical. Make sure that there are clear language guidelines for con calls. Also, make sure everyone can follow the discussion.