Articles

Identify the sources of conflict

Conflict in remote teams can arise from various sources. Recognising these sources is the first step towards addressing and resolving them effectively.

• Communication breakdowns: misunderstandings often occur due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Text-based communication can lead to misinterpretations.
• Cultural differences: diverse teams bring different cultural perspectives, which can sometimes clash if not managed properly.
  
• Unequal workload distribu…

The ability to work independently is one of the benefits of remote work, however it can be easy to lose focus. Build internal accountability so you can maintain productivity while working remotely.

Manage your time

Without the structure of a traditional office environment, it's easy to lose track of time or become overwhelmed by tasks. Here are some strategies to manage your time more effectively:

• Set clear goals: begin each day with a list of specific goals you aim to achieve. Break down l…

Focus on building the skills you need to effectively support your remote team.

Build your skills

Leading a remote team requires a broad range of skills.

• Communication: Clear and consistent communication is vital in a remote setting. Leaders must articulate goals, expectations, and feedback efficiently through various channels such as email, video calls, and messaging apps.
• Empathy: Understanding the personal and professional challenges your team members face is crucial. Empathetic leaders …

Managing a remote team can make it hard to know how people are feeling. Don’t leave it up to chance, pay attention to changes and keep lines of communication open.  

One of the primary concerns for managers of remote teams is recognising signs of stress in their employees. Unlike traditional office settings where face-to-face interactions can provide visual cues, remote work requires more nuanced approaches. It’s important to pay attention and address issues early.

Have you noticed?

• Changes…

Running an engaging remote meeting takes skill and planning. Virtual meetings can be a time sink. With a bit of planning and consideration, you can make them engaging and productive.

 Prepare

Set clear objectives: the first step in preparation is defining the purpose of the meeting. What do you hope to achieve? Clear objectives help keep the meeting focused and ensure that all participants understand why they are there.

Choose the right platform: not all video conferencing tools are created e…

Don’t get hung up on the challenges of remote leadership – the rules are the same. Pave the way to success by making it clear what people have to do, when they have to do it and then proactively monitor and review progress.

Set realistic deadlines

Successfully managing remote projects begins with setting realistic deadlines. To do this, it’s essential to assess the project scope and complexity. Take the time to understand all the tasks involved and how long each one will take. This helps in cr…

Don't let your remote team drift.

When you focus on understanding what drives your team, setting clear goals, encouraging continuous learning, fostering a positive environment and recognising achievements, you help to keep your remote team motivated and focused on organisational goals.

Take Action

Understand what motivates your team

People need a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to perform at their best.  Intrinsic motivators are internal, and include personal growth, job satisfacti…

When your remote team are not just working from home but working around the world, it’s important to agree on ways you can stay connected and collaborate effectively.

Why it matters

In distributed teams it can be hard to coordinate meetings that work for everyone. It may be necessary to schedule meetings outside regular work hours, which can affect the work-life balance of your team. When team members are not online simultaneously, questions and tasks may take longer to address. This can slow …

When organisational goals support individual goals, employees feel valued. People who feel valued are more likely to engage with the goals of the organisation and work harder to achieve them.

Why It Matters

Employee engagement can be challenging in remote teams. Without face-to-face interaction it’s hard to build trust which is an important stepping stone to engagement.

Take Action

To build engagement in your remote team, focus on communication and collaboration through:

Regular check-ins a…

The temptation to implement a blanket rule for all hybrid or remote workers is driven by the desire for simplicity and uniformity. Leaders face the challenge of designing flexible work arrangements that maintain productivity while addressing the diverse needs of their teams.

Why it matters

Fairness in the workplace means recognising and accommodating diversity, ensuring that every employee has the support they need to thrive. Uniform policies can lead to employees feeling undervalued and less …