Databox put together a compelling list of managers and their advice for managing remote teams, specifically in light of covid-19.
We picked out favourite quotes and insights from Databox and you can find the full results here.
Giving a tutorial? Use screen-sharing videos rather than emails
Speaking of video, Sagapixel‘s Frank Olivo advises to “use video services like Soapbox whenever possible. Giving someone a video walkthrough of what you want done and how you want it done is so much more effective than an email or even video call.”
“To start, your team members can view it as many times as needed. Additionally, there’s no need to coordinate a time for a call or meeting; he or she can watch the video when it’s most convenient.”
“Finally, these assets can be reused to train other remote team members to do the same thing,” Olivo adds.
Julie Singh explains how they do this at TripOutside: “Video tools like Snagit and Loom are critical to our success and allow us to create videos from our computers with voice and screen “sharing” to show our screen and talk our team through what we need.”
“The videos are typically large, so we save them as shared documents in Google Drive, so the team can access them.”
Singh adds, “Videos are so helpful for explaining new projects, issues, and tasks as well as creating more meaningful connections to each team member.”
Lean on your collaboration software
“Communication is probably the most essential part of successfully managed remote workers,” says Brosix‘s Nikola Baldikov. “Therefore, I would advise companies to not wait, but implement a communication/collaboration tool for their internal communication.”
“Such tools enable teams and individuals to stay connected, benefit from features such as text/audio/video chat, screen-sharing and file transfer, which undoubtedly increase productivity and efficiency.”
Indicative‘s Tara McQuaide agrees: “Our best productivity tip is to use a project management tool and cloud-based storage tools that update in real-time for everyone involved, mimicking an in-person interaction on a task.”
Andromeda Booth explains how they do this at Just After Midnight: “Use tools such as Sococo, Slack and Zoom or a simple traditional phone call to discuss ideas with other members of the team.”
“You can spend 2 hours stuck on a problem or solve it in 2 minutes after a quick chat with a colleague. You may be working from home, but you are still part of a team.”
Russell Michelson of Bead the Change adds: “The most effective tip for managing remote employees is to get them familiar with a quality CRM. CRM’s are the main hub for remote employees, telling them what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, who needs to do it, and other relevant information.”
“Ensuring your employees understand how to scan and operate your CRM can lead to productivity as you have never seen before. I have managed remote employees for almost 5 years, and I feel my employees are more productive when they have the freedom to work from home.”
Schedule regular breaks
Laura Fuentes of Infinity Dish, who has been managing a remote team for 8 years, says: “People need breaks, and managers need to understand that just because their team is working remotely that they are available at all hours.”
“Setting boundaries on both sides is important so that everyone is able to come back to work fully charged and focused.”
Summarizing, Ajay Dahiya of The Pollination Project says: “Studies show that workers who take breaks are more productive overall and providing your team space to be creative helps your organization prosper in the long run because your team is encouraged to bring more creative solutions to the table.”
