How to Gather and Manage a Successful Remote Team for Your Business

Many businesses are making the move to remote teams these days, simply because they make a lot of sense for small companies who need to save money and don’t require employees to be in-house.

With so many upgrades in technology in the last few years, it’s easier than ever to have a team filled with qualified individuals who can do their work from home. It is also an easy way to keep things running smoothly. Getting started can be a bit tricky, however, especially if you’ve never had a remote team before.

Fortunately, building and managing a remote team just takes a bit of patience and some research. There are many tools online at your disposal that will help you hand-pick your team members based on their qualifications.

From there, it’s just a matter of making sure you have organized policies so that everyone will be on the same page. Your business plan will need to be streamlined for everyone to work well together.

Here are a few tips on how to make it happen!

Pick your Team Members

The right team members for your company will, of course, depend on what your projects are and how much time you have to get them trained. But you can start by looking at job sites to narrow down the field. Consider hiring a virtual assistant who can help take the load off your shoulders by answering phones, doing data entry, and scheduling meetings.

The right candidate will be organized and will have some experience in your field, but you can look at a job board for postings to get a better idea of their qualifications. If your business’s website needs an overhaul consider bringing in a freelance web designer to give it a sleeker, more appealing look.

The right hire should be knowledgeable in UX and UI design and web fundamentals and be able to effectively communicate with writers, developers, and graphic designers.

Put Together a Training Course

One of the keys to putting together a successful remote team is making sure that everyone is on the same page at all times. Without thoughtful and consistent communication, your team will be much more likely to make mistakes that could cost you opportunities or even customers, so it is important to create a training plan that everyone can follow easily.

These days there are tons of resources online for business owners who want to make a training video or course for their website, so take advantage of your options.

Check-in Often

Remote workers have the advantage of not having to waste time in meetings that don’t pertain to their specific jobs, but it’s still important to check in and make sure there are no issues or questions, or to just let someone know they’re doing a great job.

It’s also a good idea to make sure everyone is up-to-date regarding your business plan, any new additions or products, and any changes to your policies, so consider putting together a newsletter to keep your team on board. Keep email communications brief and concise, and schedule a monthly meeting via a group video chat so that everyone can have the benefit of face-time.

Set Clear Expectations

It’s not always easy to make sure remote employees are taking care of their responsibilities; after all, you can’t be there with them while they’re working from home. That’s why it’s so important to set clear expectations right up front.

Let them know what their schedule should look like and outline their duties. If necessary, break down their responsibilities by the week or month so they can stay on track. This way you’ll both have a time frame for completion, and it will be easier to keep track of everything.

Gathering and maintaining a remote team for your small business can take some time and research, so allow for plenty of both when you’re ready to get started. By beginning with a solid plan from the get-go you can ensure that everyone on your team is properly vetted and trained, which will help save you time and money in the long run.

About Tina Martin, Author and Creator of Ideaspired

Website: Ideaspired

Tina Martin worked in business administration at the early stage of her career. Later, she decided to pursue something that actually inspired her: becoming a personal fitness instructor. She made the decision that HER ideas matter, that She is the author of her own life story and that she can and should be her own inspiration. So, she ended up in writing a book “IDEASPIRED”.