{"id":31043,"date":"2024-01-24T11:36:36","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T11:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realvnc.com\/en\/?post_type=blog&p=31043"},"modified":"2024-01-24T11:46:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T11:46:45","slug":"tips-for-building-remote-teams-thrive","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.realvnc.com\/en\/blog\/tips-for-building-remote-teams-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Must-Know Tips for Building Remote Teams That Thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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No matter which department you work in, one thing is clear: the workplace is changing. Across the globe, workers are abandoning the office in favor of their home working environment. In fact, <\/span>31%<\/span><\/a> of employers now allow employees to work remotely.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s not hard to see why; remote work brings many benefits. With fewer people working on-premises, you can invest in a cheaper office. What\u2019s more, employees no longer need to commute to the office, so you\u2019re not limited by location. You can unlock a global pool of talent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

However, building remote teams is a learning curve. If you\u2019re struggling to adapt to this new form of working, don\u2019t panic. In this article, we\u2019ll share some tips to help you build a remote team that thrives.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is remote team building? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Remote team building is when you create a team of employees who work outside the office environment. Fifteen years ago, this concept would\u2019ve seemed impossible. But with today\u2019s technology, remote work has become increasingly more viable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Video conferencing software, for instance, allows you to connect and meet with remote employees. Thanks to the cloud, you can collaborate on documents, share comments, and maintain teamwork. Other technologies, such as <\/span>instant file share<\/span><\/a> and time-tracking software, have been equally useful.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Screenshot sourced from owllabs.com<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u2019re currently in the midst of a period known as the \u2018The Great Resignation.\u2019 People are abandoning their roles in record numbers in search of new opportunities. To hold onto your staff, you need to listen to what they\u2019re saying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Remote work might represent a solution. As many as <\/span>52%<\/span><\/a> of workers say they\u2019d take a pay cut of 5% or more to have a flexible working location. By and large, employees <\/span>want <\/span><\/i>to work remotely.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Must-Know Tips for Building Remote Teams That Thrive<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There are many benefits to building remote teams, but without the right approach, you\u2019re not guaranteed success. With that in mind, here are eight <\/span>remote working tips<\/span><\/a> to help you build successful remote teams.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Be aware of time zones<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As mentioned, access to global talent is one of the best aspects of remote work. That said, the further you spread your net, the more difficult communication becomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Let\u2019s imagine that you are a California-based company, and you hire someone who lives in the UK. This means that your new employee is eight hours ahead of you. They might not be around to answer emails or join meetings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The same applies if you\u2019re outsourcing work to another company. For example, you might have been debating the benefits of a <\/span>BPO vs call centre<\/span><\/a> and gone for a BPO contact center. If the outsourced company is working overseas, you will still need to overcome time zone issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But what\u2019s the solution? Make sure that you remind employees across your organization about the time differences. Get into the habit of picking times for meetings that coordinate with all employees. Failing that, utilize conferencing software to record meetings and share them with non-attendees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Additionally, you could consider implementing a <\/span>virtual queue<\/span><\/a> system for handling requests or questions from remote employees, ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance to have their concerns addressed.<\/span><\/p>

Secondly, it\u2019s useful to invest in tools that can improve collaboration. Cloud-based team management software, for example, allows employees to drop in and out. They can leave comments and track the progress of team members.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Clarify expectations <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There\u2019s a fine line between managing and micro-managing. On one hand, it\u2019s important you place trust in your employees. Virtual teams need to know that you have faith in them to work productively. On the other hand, some oversight is important. You need confidence that employees are on track to meet their goals.<\/span><\/p>

To achieve a balance between the two, you need to clarify expectations on day one. Start by setting clear objectives for each team member. Establish a routine for checking in with the employee and monitoring progress.<\/span><\/p>

Secondly, make a decision about flexibility. Will you allow employees to choose their own routines, or will they stick to a set schedule? If you choose the former, you should agree on specific times when members should be available.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. Allow time to socialize<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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One of the greatest dangers of remote work is that employees will feel isolated. This is especially the case if they were previously used to working in the office. As remote teammates don\u2019t know each other as well, collaboration can suffer. If isolation goes unaddressed, teammates can get depressed, and productivity takes a dive.<\/span><\/p>

This was underlined in a recent study by MMBI; as many as <\/span>73%<\/span><\/a> of executives reported that workers were feeling isolated.<\/span><\/p>

The solution, thankfully, is simple: allow teammates the space to socialize so that they feel less isolated and more connected as a team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Why not kickstart a conversation between teammates by creating virtual \u2018breakout rooms\u2019? There are virtual spaces that employees can join to chat during their lunch breaks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You could also run virtual activities on video chat to get team members to socialize. Some examples are listed below:<\/span><\/p>