Being a manager is already tough. Navigating the switch to fully remote teams in the last few years has probably made your job even tougher. Leading remote teams is not intuitive and requires different skills than in-person management. But with practice and the right tools, you can manage a remote team effectively. As we head into a new year, take the chance for a fresh start to best lead your team in 2022.
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Use these tips and tools for engaging and managing remote teams to create a strong company culture and an even stronger team.
Before you strategize solutions, it is important to understand the challenges you are facing or may face in the future. (And some you might not even realize you are already facing.) As a manager, your focus is often divided. With remote teams, your focus becomes even more divided as your staff is dispersed across the world. Small things like spontaneous meetings in the hallway or catching up at the water cooler become more difficult, and it might become harder to maintain personal relationships with your employees.
Tracking tasks, deadlines, and productivity can also become more difficult without a centralized office and meeting space. There is an inherent barrier in communication when teams are no longer in the same space. Without seeing the faces and body language of your employees daily, it may be hard to gauge and maintain team morale. If it is your first time leading a remote team, you'll have to consider things like what are the best ways to manage remote workers? And of course even more questions will arise depending on your specific team. On top of all of this, it is your job to promote a culture of strong teamwork, so you will have to navigate how to facilitate team building remotely. (Do not worry, we’ve got that one covered.)
Though these challenges can seem daunting, there are a lot of great benefits of remote teams like having meetings in sweatpants. Seriously, though, it seems like remote work is here to stay, and with some planning, there are many ways to lead remote teams successfully.