More companies nowadays are realizing that a traditional office work environment is no longer required for a business to operate successfully, leading more entrepreneurs to launch online businesses instead. Not only are online businesses much easier to start as they require less initial investment, but they also allow business owners to tap into a much larger pool of talent and job candidates. Here’s how you can create a successful remote team for your business!
Have Clear Communication Channels
One of the things you sacrifice by forgoing an office space is the convenience of simply walking up to your colleague or employee when you have questions or concerns. Fortunately, there are many online applications and websites that can serve as communication channels for you and your team.
From messaging platforms like Slack to video conferencing tools like Zoom and even project management software like Trello, you’ll surely be able to coordinate easily with your team. A good tip is to have separate channels and pages for each topic, as this will keep all conversations regarding a certain topic organized in one place for easy access and reference. For example, daily updates regarding a certain project should have its own Slack channel.
Avoid Micromanaging Employees
One of the reasons many employees pursue fully remote job opportunities is because of the flexibility that it affords their daily lives. Aside from no longer having to worry about waking up early or making their daily commutes, employees also enjoy working from the comfort of their own homes, with some even finding that they work better when they don’t feel that a superior is constantly monitoring their progress for the day.
Instead of micromanaging your team, it’ll be much healthier and more sustainable to cultivate a culture of trust and accountability. This means trusting your employees to produce high quality work and take ownership of their projects. As a boss and leader, you can also set clear and attainable goals, deadlines, and performance metrics to help each employee assess their performance.
Promote Work Life Balance
As mentioned above, many employees are looking for remote opportunities to maintain a much healthier work life balance, and this is something that you should actively encourage when managing your team. One of the reasons why remote teams burn out easily is that many leaders make the mistake of assuming that employees can work around the clock, even outside working hours.
This is something that you should avoid at all costs. While it may yield significant benefits in the short term, it can also lead to increased stress as well as reduced productivity and motivation among employees. It’s best to encourage employees to engage in fun personal activities and hobbies outside of work. To take things a step further, you can even invite your team to a company outing to foster camaraderie and stronger relationships.
Hold Regular Meetings and Check Ins
With all the benefits that come with working remotely, it also has its downsides, mainly that employees don’t have the easy and accessible social interaction that a typical office would offer. One way that you can ease this feeling of loneliness among your team is by holding regular catch up meetings and check-ins. Despite the distance between everyone, these meetings may help bring the team closer together, especially when they’re casual and not work-related.
You can also have the option of holding these with everyone or with individual members. The former will help everyone get to know each other better, while the latter will provide a safe and intimate space that welcomes questions and feedback, so pick which one suits your situation the best.
Provide Upskilling and Development Opportunities
One way to incentivize your employees is by investing in their professional development and upskilling. You can do this by offering virtual training sessions, online workshops, and other resources that can help them improve their skills. By encouraging their continuous learning and providing them with other opportunities for growth, you’ll be able to show your employees that you care for them enough to help them improve as professionals.
These remote businesses are increasing in popularity, but it’s important to remember that any form of business—whether physical or virtual—still needs to be registered and incorporated. It can be confusing and overwhelming for many entrepreneurs, but there are corporate service providers like WealthBridge that offer company incorporation in Singapore to take care of everything for you.
With a team of experienced professionals who have helped different companies in various industries get their start, you no longer have to worry about all the paperwork and requirements. Just focus on creating the best business you can, and leave everything else to WealthBridge!