This featured article is brought to you by: Tamsin Parry, Operations Strategist

The post-Covid workplace is not what it used to be. 

Remote work is here to stay, with hybrid and distributed teams becoming the norm.

While this flexible model of working comes with numerous advantages—such as an enhanced work-life balance and the opportunity to tap into a cost-effective global talent pool—it is not without its unique set of challenges. Without the daily face-to-face interactions of a shared office, collaboration can suffer.

So how do you build an engaged and aligned virtual team?

Based on my experience in helping hundreds of companies build their remote teams, I have put together a list of 13 strategies to help you improve the productivity and happiness of your remote team. I would suggest reviewing the strategies below, and implementing the ones that you think will be most impactful based on your team’s needs. 

Effective Strategies for Managing Remote Teams 

1. Establish Defined Expectations

Ensure each team member has a thorough understanding of their role and responsibilities, including the finer details such as specific shift times, modes of communication, etc. These expectations are communicated across the entire team to foster transparency and predictability. 

2.  Maintain Accountability

Allow team members the autonomy to carry out tasks independently while ensuring their performance is assessed and managed based on a set of mutually understood outcomes.

3. Culture of Over-Communication

For remote teams, proactive and clear communication regarding their movements and everyday activities is crucial. This ensures that no one is left in the dark about what team members are working on, thereby enhancing cohesion, collaborative efficiency, and trust. 

4. Anticipate Internet and Electricity Outages

Help your team plan for unexpected outages by supporting them to find alternative power and internet suppliers in case of emergency. You can also plan “offline” projects so they can stay productive if they are unable to go online. 

5. Mindfulness of Team Time-Zones

As much as possible try to have team members working synchronistically, but this is not always possible. When scheduling meetings and project deadlines, be mindful of time zones. 

6. Be Outcome Focused

Prioritize quality and timeliness of work to create a performance-driven team that delivers, rather than just focusing on hours clocked.

7. Adopt Automations

Actively look for automation opportunities to eliminate redundancies and free up time for more value-driven activities.

8. Embrace Flexibility

While it’s important to set guidelines, giving team members some leeway to adapt to their personal circumstances enhances their job satisfaction.

9. Prioritize Team Cohesion and Encourage Casual Interactions

Host virtual social events and set up informal channels for casual conversations to foster a strong sense of community and teamwork.

10. Cultivate a Remote-Friendly Atmosphere 

Consciously design a work culture that aligns with your company’s values and accommodates remote team members. This may require a transitional period if the majority of your team is office-based. One way to achieve this is by implementing regular virtual team-building exercises that include both remote and in-house staff, thereby fostering a unified company culture.

11. Offer Professional Development Training

To empower your team with upskilling opportunities and enhance job satisfaction, consider investing in continuous professional development. You may consider The Doing Co’s  Super Team Academy program.

12. Promote Mental Health and Psychological Safety

Foster an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable being open and authentic. A simple initiative could be implementing a ‘Mental Health Hour’ once a week where the team is encouraged to step away from work to focus on self-care activities. Creating this secure environment not only supports emotional well-being but also enhances productivity and job satisfaction.

13. Celebrate Milestones to Boost Morale

Acknowledge and celebrate both team and individual achievements to boost morale and foster a positive work environment. If no team members are in the vicinity, consider offering to pay for a celebratory dinner out for them and their families.

Essential Software for Remote Teams

One of the biggest factors for effectively managing a remote team is implementing a range of communication tools, each with specific benefits. You will need software for Video Calling, Text Messaging, Project Management, and Screen Recording software.

VIDEO CALLING

There are 3 main video conferencing tools that we recommend for meetings with remote team members. Here are our top software recommendations. 

Google Meet If you already use Google Suite, then this would be the simplest and easiest choice. It is free with a Google subscription. 

Microsoft Teams If you already use Microsoft products then this would be the simplest and easiest choice. It is included free with your service. 

Zoom Allows for greater flexibility and is increasingly becoming the most popular choice. It is free for meetings up to 40 minutes long. 

LIVE CHAT 

One of the most valuable tools that you will come to rely on when working with your remote team member is live chat. This will allow you to delegate quick tasks, ask questions, general chat, and more. Most of the platforms work similarly to WhatsApp but have the added benefit of being customized for business use. 

Slack is the most popular messaging platform used in business, and allows you to segment work from personal. It has a full scope of services and will scale as your business grows. 

WhatsApp If you feel a little overwhelmed with the idea of ‘new tech’ then it is fine to use WhatsApp as a messaging tool initially. However, you may find over time that you outgrow it. 

SCREEN RECORDING SOFTWARE 

One of the most essential tools in your business is video screen recording software. I recommend Loom because it is fast and easy to use. You just need to download a browser extension and with a click, you can record your screen. This can be used to create instructional videos, delegate complex projects, or clarify issues that may be getting lost in translation. It also allows the team member to absorb the information in their own time, and rewatch if they need to clarify something. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project management tools offer a streamlined solution for coordinating tasks, deadlines, and team collaborations. These platforms enable you to visualize the workflow, delegate responsibilities with ease, and monitor progress in real-time. The result is a significant reduction in operational overwhelm, thereby allowing for a more focused and efficient work environment. 

Asana Their free entry-level package is very powerful and has most features that are required for most small to medium-sized businesses. It is the platform that I recommend and what we use for Live Life Build.

ClickUp This is an alternative and popular platform. It has a limited free plan and then the paid version starts at $5 USD per user per month. 

By adopting these protocols and selecting the appropriate tools, you can cultivate a cohesive and efficient remote working environment. As mentioned earlier, the key is incremental progress; it’s about consistently layering new ideas and systems to forge a stronger, more united team. An added benefit of this approach is the message it sends to your team. Witnessing your commitment to their well-being and development can significantly enhance their loyalty and commitment to your business. 

So what’s your next step?

Evaluate the recommendations presented and choose the one that resonates most with your team’s current needs. Once you’ve made a decision, begin outlining a plan of action. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, don’t hesitate to connect with me on Instagram here.

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This featured article is brought to you by: Tamsin Parry, Operations Strategist

Tamsin Parry is the Founder of The Doing Co. and an award-winning Team and Operations Strategist. With over 30 years of experience in operations, team, and project management, she’s passionate about optimizing small businesses through efficient systems and empowering virtual teams. Tamsin has appeared as a panelist alongside Australian business experts Mark Bouris and Janine Allis and has been featured as a guest on numerous podcasts including SharkTank’s Naomi Simson’s Handpicked podcast.

Over the past decade, she has specialized in remote team recruitment and management – hiring, training, and overseeing hundreds of remote team members for 6 and 7-figure small and medium businesses in the US, Australia, and Europe. Additionally, Tamsin serves as a business mentor for one of Australia’s premier coaching companies, Business Blueprint, and is a featured expert on the award-winning Bizversity Business Education app.

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