Everyone knows how essential collaboration is for businesses.
Everything seems to run much more smoothly when everyone's on the same track.
General work processes move much faster, creativity blossoms, and teams reach
goals much quicker. That's because everyone's goals are aligned and up to date
with each other. Instead of working alone to their rhythm, each member of the
team stays in touch with the others, ensuring higher productivity levels.
What is Remote Hiring?
Remote hiring is the process of hiring teams to work from
home. Instead of working in the office, they set up their workstations at home
and connect to the group online. In many cases, it helps reduce costs and
increases productivity and flexibility. However, some feel that it comes at the
expense of easy collaboration. Many fear that the teams can't collaborate
successfully without everyone sitting in the same room, leading to lowered
productivity levels. That does not have to be the way it works, though. With
these twelve tips, your business can enjoy excellent collaboration while still hiring
remote teams.
1: Use Video Calls
Emails have their place when managing remote teams, as you
can use them to check in and send important information. However, they aren't
enough for teams to collaborate. That's where video conferencing comes in
handy. Use video calls to get the team together; you'll find collaborating on
projects much more straightforward. It's not just useful for the whole team; it
also lets small group projects work together over video chat.
Video calls work well, but pay attention to their frequency
and how much they help. Boosting collaboration doesn't mean hosting a meeting
every hour of the working day. Instead, it means hosting meetings at set times
so everyone can jump on, share ideas, and ask questions. Make them productive
by not overdoing them. That way, people are more likely to spend time
productively between video calls without worrying about being called for an
impromptu one!
2: Make Sharing Files Easy
When managing a remote team, you require seamless
communication, including file sharing. Your team will have tons of files to
share over their time, including word docs, PDF files, images, and more. Allow
them to do this with a secure file-sharing system that works seamlessly. SFTP
is excellent for this, as it provides both security and ease of use. Plus, SFTP server allows partners to securely exchange files with your organization.
Allow your remote teams to use this, and they will have no trouble exchanging
files no matter where they are in the world.
3: Rotate the Teams for Group Projects
Remote teams still take part in group projects despite working from home. To
improve this form of collaboration, rotate the teams on occasion. For example,
if you often have the same five people working together, put them with other
groups for particular projects and see the results. By doing this, you'll see
who works best together remotely, meaning you'll make better decisions when it
comes to planning group projects going forward. You might even discover that
one team produces more work than ever before! Plus, the change itself will
likely boost productivity levels.
4: Avoid Over Communicating
You might think that keeping up to date with remote teams
ensures better collaboration, especially when checking in with group projects.
The truth is that most remote teams collaborate better when left to their own
devices. That's because they have the time and space to come up with
interesting ideas and develop them. However, if they constantly receive
messages from management asking for an update, they may lose their flow.
5: Use the Right Collaboration Tools
Luckily for remote teams, there are plenty of excellent
collaboration tools to use for boosting communication between teams. The trick
is finding the best one. To find the best one for your team, write down a list
of necessities. Do you want a centralized hub that the whole team can access?
Do you need quick, secure file transferring that won't interrupt the day? Or,
perhaps you are looking for a budget-friendly platform? You'll find better
collaboration tools for your remote teams by knowing your terms.
6: Set Plain, Direct Goals
To ensure that your teams work well together, set clear, direct goals that push them in the right direction. From there, your
remote teams can work in whatever way they like to reach those goals. That's
the beauty of working remotely “ it's not about micromanaging each step; it's
about allowing employees to achieve goals on their own terms. As long as they
reach the same result, it doesn't matter. As a bonus benefit, your team will
feel more respected and trusted in their roles.
7: Encourage Questions
Misunderstandings kill productivity. Unfortunately,
misunderstandings happen often with virtual teams, often due to
miscommunication. One way to reduce the chance of this happening is by
encouraging your team to ask questions. Do this by making time for questions
throughout and at the end of meetings. Encourage people to ask questions
through one-on-one meetings, email, and phone calls, too. It's better to
clarify early rather than discover a significant error later on!
8: Use Team Bonding Exercises
Hiring remote teams can mean your staff members don't know
each other well, hindering collaboration. That's why team bonding exercises
matter. There are plenty of ways to bond the team online, including virtual
quizzes, break rooms, and celebrations. It all matters! If your remote team
lives nearby, you could even set up in-person meetings from time to time to
encourage people to get to know each other better.
9: Celebrate the Wins
When a team works particularly well with one another and
produces excellent results, it makes sense to celebrate that. Plus, it encourages
them to carry on working well together, so celebrate the wins each time they
happen. Do this as an entire team. On a virtual video call, you can host a
celebration by shouting out the stand-out team players, giving virtual
trophies, or even hosting a virtual party (don't forget to send some cupcakes over!). Doing this
makes teams feel more collaborative and as though they are part of something
special.
10: Consider a Hybrid Model
Have you considered a hybrid model rather than a fully remote one? If you have remote teams, you likely
know what hybrid working means: a mix of working at home and in the office.
Some companies prefer this model over a fully remote one as it allows employees
to come into the office from time to time. It can make meetings and checking in
easier when you physically see the teams. Plus, those teams can meet each
other, resulting in better collaboration from home.
Of course, hybrid working doesn't work for all businesses.
That might be because you do not have the office space, employees might live
too far, and you may have already hired employees remotely, and changing the
way they work isn't viable. That's why you should consider this option before
hiring remote teams. That way, you don't have to worry about changing the model
down the road. Instead, you can be transparent and hire hybrid teams from the
get-go.
11: Plan Meetings
Too many ongoing meetings will only harm productivity
levels. To ensure the team can go off and collaborate without interruption,
keep discussions swift by planning them thoroughly. Know what you're going to say and the points you plan on going
over. That way, the meetings won't take up too much of the day without
sacrificing time for communication. You can always speak to individual team
members separately if they have specific needs, questions, or ideas.
12: Get into a Routine of Communication
Remote teams require some routine to maintain high
productivity levels. That's why a routine of communication is essential. Not
only does it keep everyone on a similar schedule, but it also means that
collaboration happens naturally. When everyone expects a Monday morning meeting
or a Friday afternoon catch-up, they can prepare to share their fresh ideas. It
might even become a time that people look forward to!
Is Hiring Remote Teams Worth it?
You might wonder, is hiring remote teams worth it? Most
people receive a different answer depending on who they ask. For many
businesses, though, the answer is yes. By hiring a remote team instead of an
in-office one, your business saves time and money. On top of that, hiring
remotely allows employees to enjoy more flexible working, which works far
better for some people. In fact, certain employees are more productive when
working on their own terms, and hiring remotely allows you to get the best work
out of them.
Remote Teams can Collaborate Effectively
It should be easy for remote teams to collaborate. As long
as you have the right collaboration tools, management techniques, and productive
meetings, your remote teams will collaborate just as productively as they would
if they were physically in the office. That means, as a business, you can enjoy
all the perks that come with hiring remote employees (such as
cost-effectiveness and more space) without having to sacrifice productivity
levels.
