Now that so many people are working from home, a lot of managers are finding themselves having to manage a team that they can’t always see. This can be a huge transition but here are some ways to keep things running smoothly.
You probably need more contact than you’re used to. Don’t clog everyone’s calendar with meetings but you need an at least weekly check in with your teams and daily in some cases. Make sure people know they can and should come to you if they’re having problems. Instead of jumping right into a meeting agenda, ask how people are and really listen. A one on one check in is great too. Even if it’s just a quick email asking how someone is holding up and if there’s anything you can help with. Sometimes when people aren’t in an office they forget they have resources. A quick check in might open the door to solve a problem for them.
On the flip side, if you are used to micromanaging, stop it. I’m serious. It’s annoying in an office but it’s catastrophic when managing a remote team. Yes, sometimes people will do things you wish they didn’t or won’t come to you for more work when they should have but you can deal with that as the situation arises. Constantly checking in on people and the status of a project is frustrating and distracting. In writing it comes off even worse. If you think you might be this person (or you know you are) do some growth while you’re learning to manage remotely. I promise it will come back to you tenfold.
Finally, ask your team what works for them! A lot of people know what they need help on. Some may ask for a daily check in, some may ask you to leave them alone. Check that work is getting done on the back end when possible (only once a day or so. Seriously, don’t you also have work to do? If you notice a consistent lag, check in. See if you can help. The most important thing you can do as a remote manager is to be a reliable and effective resource for your team. Once they know that you have the answers, they’ll come to you when they need to.
For more info on managing remote teams, check out this online panel from Bossed Up (www.bossedup.org) that I was on in March. Management Best Practices for Managing a Remote Team
What have you found, either as a manager or employee, works well when you’re working with remote teams?