FWA Tips for Managers

Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams (AppDirect)

Lead by Example:

Be a role model for your employees and communicate with them in the ways you want them to communicate with you. It’s unfair to ask your team to be open with you if you aren’t willing to do the same for them. The more you communicate with them, the more they’ll likely do so with you.

Check In Frequently: 

Touch base with your team, either on an individual basis or as a group, to see how they’re doing. You don’t need to have a heart-to-heart every time you interact with them, but a simple instant message each morning or weekly team meeting can show your team that you’re thinking about them even though you aren’t all in the same office.

Set Expectations: 

Make sure each one of your employees knows exactly what is expected of them in regards to communication. How long do they have to respond to a message or email? When do they need to be available for a phone call or video chat? Further, make sure they know what projects or tasks they need to work on and how long they have to accomplish that task.

Give & Solicit Feedback: 

You should give each one of your team members feedback on a consistent basis. When working remotely, it’s hard to know what they’ve done well and how they can do better. Additionally, ask for feedback from your employees about what you can do to be a better manager for them.

Make Time for Development: 

With remote work, it’s easy to get in the groove of simply working on the task for the day or a given deliverable. Do your best to create time to help your team members develop professionally. Regularly set aside time for each one of your team members to talk about their professional ambitions, what internal learning opportunities are open to them, and how you can help them work toward their goals.