By Adrian Romero, CEO: Leading the way in transforming the future of work with Cápita Works.
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As a seasoned business leader with a proven track record in leading remote teams, I can confirm how important effective management is to driving innovation and growth in your company.
In my experience, the flexibility and autonomy that come with remote work can lead to a boost in creativity and productivity from your employees. When people work in their preferred environment, they tend to be more efficient and produce higher-quality work.
On top of that, the reduction in overhead costs and the availability of a globally diverse talent pool through nearshoring only add to the advantages you can obtain from effective remote management. I believe that those who embrace this model will be the ones who thrive in the years to come.
With the right approach, remote work can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to stay competitive. Here are some facts that back up my experience:
1. According to a study conducted by McKinsey at the start of the pandemic, there was a significant rise in individuals—with one month having an increase of 45%—who said they work more efficiently remotely, especially in certain industries.
2. According to another survey from 2020, 83% of employers believe that remote work has been successful for their business, and 71% of employees want to continue working remotely at least part of the time.
3. Lastly, another report suggests employers can save an average of $10,000 per year per employee by allowing them to work remotely due to reduced office space and other costs.
Building an effective remote management strategy can help ensure that your team stays organized, engaged and productive while working from home; but there’s more to it than just setting clear objectives.
From developing virtual training sessions to preparing technology infrastructure for secure collaboration, managing remote employees requires careful planning and consistent effort on behalf of employers and employees alike.
It’s time to rethink the traditional exploration of growing teams in offices. As more companies turn toward collaborative workspaces, it’s essential to understand what makes remote management successful if you want continued success in this ever-growing digital workplace climate.
Based on my firsthand experience in cultivating high-performing virtual teams. Here are five innovative strategies for remote businesses to succeed:
1. Invest in the right technology.
A.I. is the hottest topic out there, and most teams are still exploring how to integrate the various solutions being created daily. Investing in reliable tools like video conferencing, cloud-based data storage and task management systems will help ensure remote teams stay connected and productive.
For now, we’ve seen the most significant impact in the marketing field, where employees can automate a lot of the execution work and focus more on the creative process and quality control, which allows the employer to maximize the value chain in the company.
2. Prioritize communication.
Since remote teams lack physical proximity, ensuring communication should remain a top priority. Establishing clear goals, expectations and communication protocols helps remote teams stay in sync. Additionally, scheduling regular team check-ins is beneficial to keeping everyone on the same page.
I encourage our clients to establish a meeting rhythm that includes a 15-minute daily huddle coupled with well-structured, weekly meetings.
Your employees should find these meetings productive, and you should aim to have each one further their engagement and push their performance to the maximum.
In my experience, video is more effective than text. In fact, according to an internal survey my company conducts every six months, 91% of the 400 surveyed employees that work remotely for our clients would prefer continuing video calls versus switching to simple text channels.
3. Foster a culture of trust.
Building a culture of trust can be a challenge for remote teams, but it is essential for the success of remote companies. Although you want to check in with regular meetings, providing your workers autonomy and flexibility will help them feel appreciated and valued.
Additionally, giving remote employees resources such as mentors or access to expertise can provide them with the support they need to excel at their jobs.
4. Develop clear processes.
As a CEO or business owner you must establish transparent processes and decision-making procedures to keep your remote team organized and efficient.
Those new to remote work should consider establishing communication protocols with clear guidelines for how and when team members should communicate with one another to help prevent miscommunications and ensure that everyone stays informed. Make sure to document key tasks and clearly outline roles and responsibilities from the start.
Setting up transparent decision-making processes and ways of resolving conflicts can also help remote teams avoid misunderstandings and maintain a positive working environment. Lastly, regular check-ins and performance reviews can help managers and remote workers stay on the same page and address any issues before they become significant problems.
5. Offer opportunities for growth.
Professional growth and development opportunities are especially important for remote employees. Offering remote workers training, conferences, or other educational resources can help them expand their skill set and stay motivated.
Once you have clear goals and have created a data-driven culture, you can get very creative regarding recognition programs. One that has been very successful for my business is gamifying our performance evaluations so that high-performers are recognized, celebrated and given access to a flexible package of perks they can redeem with their earned points.
Even in these trying times, I believe your remote company can survive and thrive with the right strategies in place.
By investing in the right technology solutions, establishing robust communication protocols and fostering a culture of trust, you set your team up for success no matter where they are physically located. With remote work here to stay, now is the time to implement these innovative management techniques to ensure continued growth for your business.
With all of this in mind, I am confident that remote companies can use these five strategies to succeed and thrive. Good luck.
