How to manage remote teams effectively and increase team collaboration

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Managing Remote Teams

• How to Increase Team Collaboration

Originally published at RingCentral UK Blog
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Deskless employees will make up 72 of the
American workforce by 2020

• International Data Corporation

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Half of the UK workforce will be working remotely
by 2020

• OddsMonkey

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What is a remote team?

• A remote team is any group of professionals that
  dont necessarily work from a specific location.
  These individuals may come from different time
  zones, have unique skills, and represent
  disparate cultures.

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Global Survey of 24,000 workers unearths the
need for flexibility in the workplace in order
for business to thrive.

• Polycom, Inc

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Tips on Managing Remote Teams
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1. Encourage Transparency
Remember to

• Set out clear roles and responsibilities
• Discuss concerns, expectations, and targets
  frequently with employees
• Schedule work hours, holidays, meetings and
  calendar ground rules
• Track projects and performance through remote
  work management tools
• Encourage honesty and transparency in work.

• As a leader and manager in your team, youll be
  the icon that others turn to for guidance. You
  cant expect your remote workers to communicate
  openly and transparently if you dont do the same
  thing for them.

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2. Practice constant communication.

• Giving your people time to chat and bond is an
  excellent way to boost the efficacy of future
  team collaboration efforts.

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3. Use the Right Tools to Keep Teams Organised

• PLATFORM

• Collaboration and file sharing tools
• Video conferencing, audio conferencing and
  instant messaging
• Calendar and scheduling tools
• Project management and tracking software
• Storage and automatic backup tools

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4. Encourage Better Relationships between
Employees

• When your people are dispersed all around the
  world, its difficult for them to feel any kind
  of emotional connection to you or the other
  workers in your team. However, if you can commit
  some time to develop relationships between your
  people, that can all change.

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Challenges in Managing Remote Teams and How to
Solve them

• CHALLENGE Different Time Zones
• SOLUTION Ask your team members to work at
  certain periods in the day that will keep them
  connected with the rest of your team.
• CHALLENGE Ensuring Collaboration and
  Communication
• SOLUTION Collaborative tools are one of the most
  important assets that a business leader can have
  when it comes to managing remote teams.

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Best Practices for Remote Team Management
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Setting Boundaries and Expectations

• Setting boundaries and expectations early on will
  help to keep everyone on the same track. Some
  points to cover include
• When everyone needs to be available,
• What communication strategies you use
• Whether meetings are mandatory or voluntary
• How project deadlines are laid out

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Embrace and Encourage Diversity

• The more diverse your team is, the easier it is
  for you to access a range of insights and inputs
  from different people.

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Work on Your Communication Skills

• Make sure that everyone in your team knows how to
  communicate effectively. To begin with, ensure
  that each member of your group knows who they can
  turn to for help and when.

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Remember, just because your people are out of
sight, doesnt mean that they should be out of
mind. Give them the tools and structure they need
to thrive, and your entire organisation will
benefit.
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Related Resources
Remote Working Resources Hub All your essential
remote working resources in one place. Watch
webinars, download the ebook and read remote
working blogs.
A Guide to Remote Working Ebook Prepare your
business for remote work through cloud
communications.
Working Remotely The 2020 Recipe to High
Productivity Here are some the remote working
tips for team collaboration and high productivity