Businesses today are jumping on to the remote work trend and are hiring top talent from all over the world. While working from home, or the beach, or any part of the globe sounds great, it can leave managers feeling a bit lost about how to properly manage the people they rarely see in person. So how can you make sure that you, as a manager, nurture, guide, and support your team members? After three years of remote work being a norm, it’s clear that working with remote team can definitely work! 

Managing a remote team is a whole different story compared to managing a team in an office setting. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between keeping your team on track and being cool about things. Trust is super important for making remote work actually work. 

There are still some roadblocks that can pop up if remote work is not handled properly, like miscommunication, boundary issues, feeling isolated, and burnout. To make sure your team members are working at their best, it’s important to get to know their differences, work habits, and how they structure their day. This way, even though you’re working from a distance, you can ensure everyone’s on the same page. 

At Filta, we’ve developed and mastered a framework to help ecommerce business like yours thrive when building their own remote teams. Here’s are some tips to get you started. 

Set clear expectations 

It is vital to make sure everyone knows what’s expected of them. For example, how fast they should respond to messages and when they need to be online for meetings. 

Provide your team members with the materials that they can reference and be reminded of expectations and changes that you made – and make it well-documented. And don’t just tell them the goal, make sure they know how to get there. To make it easy for everyone, keep all the important documents in one place where everyone knows where to find them. 

Schedule catchups 

When your team is in the office, it’s easy to chat and bounce ideas off each other, even if it’s just in the break room or while waiting for a meeting to start. But with remote work, that kind of casual engagement can get lost in the shuffle. 

As a manager, it’s important to give your team a way to talk about any topics that they might not feel comfortable discussing in big groups. Making sure your team feels heard and has some one-on-one time with you, even when working remotely, can boost their confidence and help them tackle the day with clarity. Give your team a chance to give you feedback, share their ideas, and speak their mind. 

To make sure you’re staying in touch regularly, set aside specific times of the day for short check-ins with your team. Let your team know they can book a slot during these times and keep a calendar, so everyone knows when the slots are filled up. 

Let the work they’re doing speak for itself 

Everyone has their own habits that work best for them when it comes to getting stuff done. It might be tempting to keep tabs on when your team is working, but one of the keys to being a great remote manager is realising that results are what really matter. The outcomes should speak for themselves. 

Our situation is different from one another, and your team knows what works best for them to get the job done. Let them choose their own work style. As long as the work is excellent and the goals are being met, there’s no need to micromanage how they do it. Instead of getting fixated on how they’re working, focus on what’s being delivered, not how much time they spend at their desk. 

Make work more fun 

Working from home might seem exciting at first, but eventually, remote workers can start to feel lonely and isolated.  As their manager, you’ll need to come up with ways to keep your team connected and avoid social isolation. Get creative with and find ways to keep everyone engaged. 

Get to know your remote team by taking time to talk with them and get a sense of their personalities. Schedule virtual happy hours or team building activities and make an effort to understand their interests. Create an open, welcoming environment where team members feel comfortable sharing details about themselves. And don’t be afraid to show a little of your own personality too! 

Practice patience and empathy 

Managing a remote team can come with its own set of challenges, but it’s important to remember that everyone is adjusting to this new way of working. As a manager, being understanding and empathetic can go a long way in smoothing out the process. Show patience and compassion in your actions and communication and keep an open mind as you navigate this new territory together. 

Keep in mind that some people will adjust better to remote work than others. Others may miss the face-to-face interactions that come with working in an office and with a team. As a manager, it’s crucial to make time to check in with your team to ensure they are coping well and are doing alright. If something is really bothering your employees, keep an eye out for them. If they seem upset or not feeling their best, offer a lending hand and give them the support they need. 

Managing a remote team is a whole new ballgame. But, with the global market expanding, it’s time to level up and bring your team with you. And if you want to crush it as a remote manager, it’s crucial to stay in tune with your team and nurture a strong business culture. Filta’s got a proven method for slaying remote management, so get ready to put in some extra effort and lead your team to greatness. Remote work is the future, and you’re the captain. Let’s do this! 

If you’re ready to know more about managing remote teams with a culture of champions, let us help you! Send an email to Filta’s Chief Growth Officer, Nerissa Chaux, at nerissa@filtaglobal.com.