Essential Strategies to Build a High-Performing Remote Team (Part 1 of 3)

The recent global pandemic has effectively nudged companies worldwide to shift their employees to remote work. While working from home has benefits, such as flexibility and reduced commuting time, it can also present challenges for building a high-performing team. 

Managing a remote team requires a different approach than navigating an in-person organization. This three-part blog series will explore essential strategies to build a high-performing remote team.

1. Communication 

Communication is one of the most crucial aspects of building a successful remote team. It is essential to establish clear communication channels to ensure everyone is on the same page. This includes using video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet, instant messaging apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams, and project management tools like Trello or Asana.

It is also essential to establish communication guidelines for your team. This includes setting expectations for response times, scheduling regular check-ins, and outlining how to communicate urgent issues. Encourage your team to be open and transparent in their communication, which will help build trust and improve collaboration.

2. Goal Setting 

Setting goals and managing expectations is crucial for building a high-performing remote team. Establishing clear goals and expectations for each team member and ensuring everyone is aligned on the team’s overall objectives is a best practice. This includes defining success metrics and setting deadlines for significant milestones.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting goals is also best to ensure the team is on track to meet its objectives. This includes providing feedback on performance and opportunities for team members to provide commentaries and suggestions regarding improving processes and achieving goals more efficiently.

3. Trust and Accountability

Building trust and accountability is essential for remote teams. Trust is built through open and transparent communication, delivering on commitments, and being consistent. It is also necessary to establish accountability mechanisms to ensure everyone is responsible for their work and meeting deadlines.

This includes setting expectations for how tasks will be completed, providing support and resources to help team members achieve their goals, and regularly reviewing and analyzing performance metrics. It’s necessary to hold regular team alignments to discuss progress and identify areas for improvement.

4. Collaboration

Encourage team members to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and provide opportunities for cross-functional collaboration. Establishing clear roles and responsibilities for each team member is also vital. This includes defining the scope of each team member’s work and providing opportunities for team members to develop their skills and expertise.

5. Culture

Building a strong team culture is essential for remote teams. Encourage team members to share their experiences and ideas and provide opportunities for team members to connect and build relationships.

It is important to celebrate successes and recognize team members for their contributions. This includes providing opportunities for team members to share their achievements and providing incentives for meeting goals and achieving milestones.

Conclusion

Building a high-performing remote team requires a different approach than managing an in-person group. Working with people remotely has its fair share of pros and cons but a strong and detail-oriented leader can use the strategies mentioned to create an aligned, productive, and motivated remote team.

Want to connect your teams wherever they are? Let the experts of BreakoutIQ help you coordinate fun online team building activities, such as Virtual Scavenger Hunt and Name That Price! Contact us today for more information.