Remote work brought many benefits for organizations as well as employees all over the world. Now you can hire experts from other countries to work in a single team without the need to relocate. However, this work model doesn't come with multiple challenges.

Team organization in the offices was hard enough. Now when the employees are all over the country or the world, you may have additional troubles managing a team. Luckily, technology and communication exist to help us. But are they enough to effortlessly run a team?

1. Develop a plan and stick to it

Let's put it this way: no matter the industry you operate in, you have certain goals you want your team to achieve. To actually accomplish them, you need to develop a plan with detailed steps that will structure your moves. The same has to be applied to your remote team. What does that mean?

To manage your remote team effortlessly, you need to let them manage themselves! How is that possible? If you create a plan with clear boundaries, your employees will know what they can and cannot do, which will result in proactive and goal-oriented behaviour. Even though not everything can go according to your plan, you need to be flexible and a true leader of your team.

2. Understand the challenges

Even though remote work is extremely beneficial for both employees and the organization, your team will come across various challenges. It’s always nice to be prepared. However, you can't predict everything that will happen. Therefore, you need to be understanding of the challenges, obstacles, and setbacks your employees may experience when working remotely.

Some of the most common challenges you’ll face are poor communication, collaboration problems, language barriers, and different backgrounds. It’s up to you to overcome those problems and create a coherent team. Lead by example and teach them compassion and empathy.

3. Focus on your employees' skills

It's easy to get off track when working remotely. Your employees might find themselves dwelling in tasks they are not cut out to do, and no one listens! So, to manage and effortlessly run your remote team, you need to focus on their skills and abilities when assigning tasks.

For example, creativity and analytical thinking are some of the most important skills a social media manager will need. Focusing on their abilities and knowledge will help you assign tasks easier and know they will be done by the best in the team. Also, ensure you’re assigning tasks equally to every member of the team.

4. Use collaboration tools

Technology exists to make our lives easier, so utilize it! Since it’s an integral part of remote work, why don’t you add a couple of tools to help you organize your team? Numerous different tools, platforms, software, and apps exist. As they have different purposes, use those that are relevant to your job type and that will help you organize an effective team.

For instance, you can pick a project management tool to help you keep track of the tasks and assignments. On the other hand, brainstorming platforms allow you to write down ideas and develop further steps from there. Also, consider file-sharing programs that will enable your team to access important documents no matter where they are located.

5. Work on your communication

Employees who work remotely often tend to feel deprived of social contact. This may lead to further isolation, work exhaustion, and mistakes that happen due to misinformation! To prevent that and improve your team's mood, work on developing a comprehensive communication model. How can you do so?

Firstly, pick a channel that suits most of your team. Try to compromise when it comes to tools you use for employee communication, and opt for those that offer multiple features and benefits. Connecting with your colleagues on a deeper level also minimizes misunderstandings that happen due to this type of communication. This leads to a smoother in-team organization and better job and task distribution.

6. Enhance the corporate culture

Every company that values employees and success nurtures a corporate culture. It’s an inevitable element that brings people together and helps them work towards the same goals. On top of that, culture helps your remote employees feel like a part of the team, which decreases the feelings of isolation. So, how can you build and enhance the corporate culture when organizing your team?

Nurture values that feel close to the team. When your team can relate to the company’s values, they are more likely to identify with it. Additionally, this helps motivate and engage your employees to work harder even if they are not under nonstop supervision. After all, you all work towards the same goals!

Wrapping up

Working remotely is a great benefit for many employees as it made finding a job more manageable. But to have a functional remote team, you need to learn how to organize your employees. These tips will help you do it as smoothly and effortlessly as possible!