Managing a remote development team can be challenging. But, it can be a seamless process if you follow a few things right. When you create the right environment, you'll see that they will work with more efficiency.
Often, remote teams struggle because they don't have a solid foundation of processes. It is where the expertise of a dedicated project manager comes in.
Here are the six essential tips to help you manage your remote team with more efficiency.
Let's get into them.
First, set the right expectations by defining roles and responsibilities for each member. For example, suppose someone is liable for testing a part of the application before it is live. In that case, they are accountable for issues in live usage.
An excellent way to establish this accountability is by using Kanban software. By defining what teams need to complete with a deadline, you'll save your team's time and energy.
Setting up practical goals for developers and deadlines is not a complex task. Follow these tips to bring out results faster:
Decide What The Project Needs — Before you set the goals, list all items that are on a priority. After that, put them up on a whiteboard or a sheet of paper.
Focus On Strengths And Weaknesses — Not every developer is good at everything. So making each person focus on what they're best at saves time and boosts productivity.
Break Up Big Tasks into Smaller Ones — Some developers can get intimidated by big projects. Make your list of tasks easier to manage by breaking it into smaller, more manageable chunks and don't forget to use a task management tool to a to keep track of progress and stay organized.
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Have a plan before you start a meeting. It will help keep the conversation on track and ensure that everyone is ready before the session.
You'll need to ensure that you are always available when your developers have queries. It's vital for them to feel supported by the entire team at all times. It goes regardless of whether they're located in another office or working from home.
Ensure to keep meetings time-boxed and as short as possible. You can do it by sending agendas in advance.
You can use task management software to ensure everyone is on the same page. It will cover all deliverables, and you don't have to go back and forth in explaining them.
Your meetings define how effective you'll be able to bring the best out of your team. Here are a few tips to make your meetings more productive:
Set a plan before you start the session — It will cut distractions to keep the team focused on the current task.
Give a short overview of the meeting at the beginning — It will help everyone know what's going on. Also, it will prepare them to contribute to the conversation.
Conduct retrospective meetings — You can use these sessions to improve your workflow. You can do it by getting feedback from employees through direct input.
Effective delegation can be your biggest asset when working with a remote team.
When you delegate, don't micromanage - it can become frustrating for your team. Team members might feel like there is no room for creativity in their work. Instead, communicate about progress and offer support when they need it.
Keeping your remote developer team accountable with check-ins is essential. You don't have the luxury of being in the same room, so it's vital to schedule regular check-ins.
Seamless communication will help you resolve any issues before they become significant problems.
Effective delegation starts with clarifying your objectives and expectations from the team. Here are some quick tips that can help:
Pick the Right People for the Job — Be clear with each team member about your expectations. Make sure they are into the project 100%.
Give clear, Concise Directions — Don't micromanage. Sit down with individual members of your development team. It will help you outline the scope of their work.
Ask For More Time If Necessary — If a deadline is looming, but something has gone wrong, share this ASAP. Thus, you can all find out what went wrong and fix it before it's too late.
Regular check-in with your team members to see how they're doing and whether there is anything you can do to help. For example, you can support them by knowing what new skills would benefit the project. To feel supported and appreciated.
Make sure to follow up and let them know if their ideas are a part of the project.
Offering regular feedback is a great way to build trust with your team members. It is because it feels supported by you at all times.
Also, it will allow them to focus on quality remote product development. It will help them without having to worry about they're doing something wrong. Finally, regular feedback plays a pivotal role in keeping developers motivated and engaged.
It ensures that everyone is producing high-quality work. Then, depending on the work style, you can set how often you want to deliver feedback to your team members.
Then, based on feedback, focus on offering collaborative learning for better productive working.
Use positive reinforcement — Appreciate your team members when they're excelling.
Keep it professional — Don't offer feedback in front of anyone else outside the project. It's vital to keep projects private. Allow each team member to feel like they can work without fear of repercussion.
Listen to their ideas - When presented with a new idea, don't dismiss them immediately. Instead, listen and appreciate them for coming up with the idea.
Having a remote development team can become a tough nut to crack when onboarding new members.
So, before your new team starts working on your project, ensure that everyone is an expert in their areas.
Preparing a series of onboarding emails also helps you ensure all know the outline. Additionally, you can use a presentation maker for presenting onboarding information.
If someone joins an existing team, they'll need to undergo training on the project. Ensure that your team members understand how they get the work and complete it. To avoid any unnecessary issues down the line.
Also, it's vital for all involved with the project. From managers to developers - to be available and ready to answer questions at any time.
When you have a remote development team, it can seem challenging to train new team members. Especially, if there's no formal training program in place. It's a good idea to use resource management software or learning management software to ensure all data stays handy.
Live Instruction Over Conference — You can also have live conferences to offer training.
Offline Documentation — Use software documentation tools to create files for new team members. So that they have access to everything they need at their fingertips.
Video Instruction — Offering video steps on working through different projects can be helpful. If possible, have an expert already familiar with the project short tutorials.
Take time to meet in person at least once per year, even if you're working with a distributed team of 10+ people. Face-to-face meetings are a great way to establish trust with your team and keep them engaged.
At least, try to meet with each team member once every two years. Even if it means flying across the country or taking a trip overseas!
Many remote teams like Buffer and Zapier hold an annual staycation with the whole team. Members from different parts of the world come together in one place.
It is a great way to make sure all feel like part of the team and can contribute to company culture. Even if you're all working from different locations worldwide.
The more team members you interact with, the stronger your relationships will be. Also, it will help you maintain and grow healthy company culture.
Take the meeting location suggestion from all — When you do the same, they feel more involved.
Don't make it a formal meet — Throughout the year, everyone is doing endless meetings. So when you all meet in person, keep the work aside for a moment.
Pick a comfortable schedule — While planning a meet, ask team members when they want to meet and pick a time.
Having a remote development team can seem challenging to train new members. But with some prep work ahead of time, making sure everyone knows what they need to do before onboarding.
Use resources such as live instruction over web conferences & offline documents.
It is also essential for all involved in the project to be available and ready to answer queries.
Face-to-face meetings are a great way to establish trust with your team and keep them engaged.
No matter how big or small your remote development team is, you can build trust with them to get the best results. With the proper communication and training, you'll be able to keep your remote team happy.