A lot has been written about the impending changes in the way people work. Rising internet penetration, improving digital education and the emergence of suitable tools has been fueling the transformation. With 451 million monthly active internet users at the end of FY19-20, India has the second-highest number of internet users in the world. Even after having the essentials in place, the shift was slow. But the outbreak of COVID-19 and sweeping restrictions on movement and gathering has accelerated the pace of change. Work from home and remote teams have become a norm rather than an exception.

As we adjust to working from home, here are few recommendations to make your remote team work efficient.

Set small goals

A lot of regular corporate practices are suited for remote working, while some need to be modified. In an office, everyone works in a similar environment and it is easy to achieve a large goal together. But remote teams work in different environments, and all teams may not be able to maintain a consistent level of productivity. To ensure all the teams contribute adequately, it is essential to break large tasks into smaller goals for remote teams. Setting smaller goals makes delegation and monitoring easier for managers. It will increase your visibility among different teams and improve coordination. To set small goals, you will have to map out the large tasks and formulate smaller steps to achieve it.

Communicate

One of the most effective teamwork strategies is frequent communication. Different teams or individuals working remotely is not a choice anymore but a compulsion due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Staying at home and social distancing has been found to be the most effective tool against the spread of the virus. However, effective communication is the biggest casualty of working remotely. Clear communication is extremely important, especially when working with remote teams. Use different channels like emails, video calls, messages and phone calls for effective communication.

Develop a problem solving mechanism

The lack of physical proximity might lead to certain issues at times. As a manager, one should develop a mechanism to solve frequently arising problems efficiently. Effective teamwork strategies require employers and managers to be quick and nimble-footed in solving problems being faced by remote-teams. A dedicated channel of communication for flagging and reporting problems and clear guidelines for solving them should be formulated. Having a mechanism for resolving issues will help in maintaining a positive work relationship and improve the productivity of the remote teams.

Make ideating remote-friendly

The requirements of the job do not change with a change of the workplace. Employees and managers will have to ideate and brainstorm on different issues while working remotely. Physical proximity makes it easier for teams to brainstorm and come up with new ideas together.

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Conclusion

Working with remote teams may seem a little chaotic in the initial phase. With effective teamwork strategies and the right tools, it can be transformed into a productive model that can lower costs in the long run while enabling you to access talent from across the world.