Managing a distributed team - a new challenge today

Working remotely from the comfort of home has become a daily occurrence for many of us. In every possible situation we will meet its enthusiasts and those who would prefer to change things. Today, however, the best way is to accept the status quo, to assimilate. Our team also recommends treating this new - for some of us - situation as a challenge! Tackling it will improve our competence, for example in self-discipline.

It's a fact that the world has slowed down a bit - a total standstill, however, cannot be afforded. Students need to continue the core curriculum, and adults need to make money. In order for our work team to be able to carry out orders, it is necessary to create the right conditions for it. A text on team management has already appeared on our blog, but in today's post we will lean into a new issue, that of managing a distributed team.

The first and basic step in any undertaking should be a clear plan of action, and in the case of managing a distributed team, a work plan. By setting priorities and delegating tasks, everyone will be clear about the division of responsibilities. This will greatly improve the creative process and affect the productivity of the entire team.

Home office can be a challenge for some, self-discipline is necessary here, including self-organization. With an outlined plan of action, employees will have a broad overview of what needs to be done - and this will help them plan their workdays. Motivation problems can also arise at home. It is therefore the responsibility of management to choose a form of motivation for employees and tools to monitor their work. However, in order for work at home to take place at all, it is important to equip people with the right equipment. It is worth doing the so-called research, to see if our employees have their own tools to perform the assigned tasks, or if such equipment needs to be organized. Let's also not forget to set up access to the necessary helpers, for example, MS Office.

When scheduling tasks, it's also a good idea to put an emphasis on online meetings. Flow of information, discussion of problems, feedback are invaluable things in a team. Companies use a variety of tools for communication, from phone, email, to Zoom or Skype platforms. The market really offers a lot of possibilities in this regard, so you need to discern in peace and decide what you need for the moment. Webinar systems are also great learning tools - it's where we can promote a culture of accountability among employees for their work and simply support each other. Today, when face-to-face contact has been greatly reduced, chatting together and having a good atmosphere in the company, even online, will positively affect the quality of work.

Changing existing daily habits is a big dose of new challenges. Moving to a remote system could undoubtedly give many companies not only additional work, but also minor problems. But it's challenges like these that allow us to remember how great things humans were made for. And who knows, maybe this attempt to work remotely will make us discover many more convenient and practical ways to do it?