Working remotely is here to stay. Managing or growing remote teams can be a very daunting task. Since the onset of the pandemic and the resulting lockdown, many businesses and companies have had to move their operations online and work from home.
For some, the transition has been easier than it has for others. Koen Vanpraet is a renowned Business Leader, management consulting professional, and client advocate.
Inspiring teams is something Koen Vanpraet loves doing the most! His two favorite authors, Gary Vaynerchuk and Simon Sinek have significantly impacted him, and sharing his wealth of knowledge is his way of giving back to the community.
What is a Remote Team?
A remote team comprises professionals working on a common goal from separate time zones, with distinct talents and cultures. Each team member works from a different location, in other cities, and across time and space.
Working from home is one thing, but leading a remote team is another.
What Factors can affect the effective growth of remote teams?
To understand how you can remain effective while growing remote teams, you first need to understand the challenges that pose as hindrances to working remotely. These challenges may include face-to-face supervision, for example.
Access to information is also restricted, hiring the right resources, missing accountability programs, isolation from others, etc. A CEO’s challenges to manage a remote team include finding the right remote work tools, collaboration on projects, different time zones, and many other factors.
Koen, how can CEO’s remain effective while growing remote teams?
Adequate communication is essential for the effective performance of tasks. Over-communicating is necessary when it comes to the team’s duties, obligations, responsibilities, and desired outcomes.
In a typical office setting, a lack of communication is already a problem. Communication is critical when individuals work remotely and may be focused on new or different tasks and goals.
Leaders should ensure proper dissemination of information amongst the team.
What other Elements do All CEOs Need?
Establish rules of engagement
When CEOs set expectations for their employees’ communication frequency, means, and optimal timing, remote work becomes more efficient and rewarding. Establish expectations for when team members should contact their manager and when they should contact each team member.
Also, make sure that your teammates provide knowledge when it’s essential.
Provide resources
Teams, particularly remote teams, will not perform successfully without adequate resources. New laptops, improved WiFi, and new technology such as headsets and webcams are required for many remote teams.
This may necessitate reallocating an already stretched funding to crucial technologies, but creating a winning environment for the team will definitely pay off. We also very much recommend a virtual office service if you work from home, as this gives you a much greater level of privacy. For one business in the UK (near Birmingham) I use Birmingham Virtual Office and it’s an incredible service, very easy to use and get the mail very fast, so this is a great example of how to use a virtual office well.
What are the qualities of an effective remote leader?
Effective leaders should have the following qualities:
– They should be dynamic.
– Promotes accountability and transparency
– They should adopt collaborative and communicative approaches.
– Must be adaptable enough to deal with unpredictability and the changing needs of different workers.
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