The world of recruitment and HR is very agile. Every year it goes through some major cultural and technological changes shifts. However, this year beats all the other years. The Coronavirus pandemic has presented a number of challenges to recruiters and HR managers. As we are living through this pandemic, we are experiencing a meaningful impact on organizations and communities. This pandemic has forced the entire world into a great experiment of remote work. Many companies have urged their employees to work from home. This has forced many managers to manage their teams remotely and adopt new ways to maintain their productivity. Managers are working from out of their offices, separated from their teams probably for the first time. If you’re a manager, this definitely must be a challenging time for you. So, in this article, we will look at 7 awesome tips to manage your remote team.

Impact of COVID 19 on Remote Work

Remote work has been a rising trend over the last few years. The number of people who work remotely at least once per week has grown by 400% since 2010. So, there’s a good chance that you might be managing at least one employee who works outside your office. However, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, remote work has become more than just a trend. It is a necessity now. According to a Gartner study, 88% of organizations have encouraged or required their employees to work remotely. Also, according to a report, 31% of people think that COVID 19 pandemic has been a catalyst for remote work. 

This crisis impetus has had a meaningful impact on team leaders and managers all over the globe. Most managers are finding themselves managing a remote team for the first time ever. This sudden, large-scale shift to remote work means leading and managing remote teams in new ways. In such urgencies, managing a remote team can be overwhelming and a tricky affair. Team managers need to have a well-curated strategy, along with a set of online tools to successfully manage their remote teams. So, let’s take a look at the 7 most awesome tips on how to manage your remote teams. 

Tips To Manage Remote Teams

Create A Communication Strategy

Working remotely means you can’t hold regular in-office team meetings, or just send for a team member and explain their tasks to them. You can’t just walk in and chat with your team members. So, communication is the most important aspect when you have a remote workforce. A well-implemented communication strategy should be the priority of every remote team manager. It goes without saying that you need to in regular communication with your remote team. Therefore, build a communication strategy that is well equipped with tools like Zoom or Slack. This way, your team will feel connected and maintain their workflow.

Make Sure You Have A Daily Check-In

It is easy to assume that in remote work your employees are going to be more productive. However, remote work disrupts the whole work-life balance of people. So, you need to establish structured daily check-ins. Whenever possible, daily check-in is a must. This may be done one-on-one on a voice call or face-to-face via a video call. This will help you keep your team on toes and stay updated and connected with their work. Your team members can consult with you, share any issues, or convey their needs to you. 

Set Clear Expectations

This sudden shift in workstyle can leave your team all confused about where to focus. So, while working remotely the biggest thing is setting expectations. It is critical for you to create and convey your expectations upfront. You need to help your remote team to figure out what they should do. While conveying your expectations to your remote team, you should clearly state the tasks, as well as the reason behind them. Also, define scope, deadlines, and other specifications. By setting clear expectations, you can effectively engage your remote employees and set yourself an

Be Empathetic

This pandemic has forced people into situations that they probably never anticipated. Many employees are working remotely for the first time, away from their colleagues. This sudden change has instilled anxiety and stress for many employees. Amidst these issues, it is very essential for managers to acknowledge these mental health issues and be empathetic towards their employees. Along with this issue, managers also need to remember that working from home isn’t as easy as it seems. There are kids, pets, and other potential distractions at home. So, as a manager, try to understand your team members’ problems and anticipate the potential problems. Try to ensure that they have what they need to make their remote work experience easier.

Create Great Work Culture

Just because your team is working remotely, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep your work and company culture. Remember, you need to make your remote employees feel like they are a part of your in-house team. So, even with all the communication happening virtually, you need to make sure that you build a strong work culture for your remote team. Host regular team events, lunches, activities, or even happy hours. Although, figuring out what works best for your team may take a couple of hit-and-trials. But at the end, building a camaraderie with your team goes a long way in boosting your employee engagement. 

Encourage Your Team To Have A Structured Remote Work Routine

Setting up a compatible remote work routine can be pretty challenging for your remote teams. So, you need to encourage your employees to have a well structured remote work routine. Firstly, have everyone on your team to set up a dedicated workspace in their homes. Stress on the importance of having a corner in their house where they can focus solely on work and nothing else. Encourage your employees to have a structured schedule for a day. Make sure everyone in your team has an up-to-date calendar. Ensure that they have access to each other’s calendars. This makes scheduling meetings with each other easier. Encourage your teammates to have a healthy lifestyle. 

Give Feedback And Recognize Them

Working remotely can make your remote team feel isolated and unappreciated. So, you need to make sure your remote team receives constant feedback on their efforts. Don’t hesitate to show appreciation to your remote employees if they’ve done good work. At the same time, if you think they need to improve in some areas, communicate it. Recognize your remote employees on digital platforms for their good work. Improve and correct their mistakes in a way that motivates them to work on themselves. Recognition can motivate your remote team and eventually will boost their productivity.