Remote work provides the convenience and accessibility increasingly sought after by today’s workforce, with 75% of employees claiming remote work provides a better work-life balance. 

Without employees coming into a centralized office every day, there are a number of challenges that can arise when managing a team.  

Managing a remote team comes with a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing a remote tech team. However, with the right strategies and tools in place, remote teams can be just as effective as those working from a centralized office. 

Challenge 1: Communication

Without the ability to walk over to someone’s desk or hold a quick meeting in person, it can be difficult to ensure that everyone is on the same page.  

Solution:

To effectively communicate with remote team members, managers must establish clear communication channels and guidelines. This requires using appropriate tools to facilitate open remote collaboration. Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or other instant messaging applications can be used for quick discussions, while video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet can enable face-to-face communication for more important meetings. Using an appropriate Internet software platform (like Microsoft Teams) to share work resources and information will also help facilitate collaboration and open communication across projects. 

Remember, effective communication is a two-way street. Encourage team members to actively engage, express their needs, and provide input on improving communication practices. Adapt these practices to suit the unique dynamics and needs of your remote team, fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration. 

Challenge 2: Productivity

Managers may have difficulty monitoring individual team members’ productivity when they are working remotely. It is important to establish clear metrics and goals for team members and to check in regularly to ensure that everyone is on track.. 

Solution:

One of the easiest ways to track the productivity of your remote team is to conduct regular 1:1 check-ins that provide visibility into each other’s activities without micromanaging. Track progress using collaboration tools or project management software, and regularly provide feedback to team members on their work, recognizing achievements and offering constructive suggestions for improvement. This promotes growth, motivation, and a sense of belonging within the team.  

It is essential to ensure that team members share a common understanding of priorities and deliverables. Be sure to clearly communicate team goals, project milestones, and individual expectations. Regularly revisiting and reinforcing these objectives helps maintain alignment and drive productivity toward success. 

Challenge 3: Technology

Remote teams heavily rely on various software, tools, and systems to perform their work effectively, but it can also present various challenges. Remote team members may encounter technical issues, such as software compatibility problems, development environment inconsistencies, or infrastructure limitations. These dependencies can hinder productivity and collaboration. 

Solution:

When managing a remote team, ensure team members have reliable high-speed internet connections and access to specialized software or tools. Provide training and technical support as needed, and make sure that team members know who to contact if they encounter any technical issues.

Remote tech teams handle sensitive data and intellectual property. Ensuring robust security measures and maintaining data privacy becomes crucial when team members work outside a controlled office environment. Safeguarding code repositories, enforcing secure access protocols, and addressing potential cybersecurity threats are essential responsibilities. 

Overcoming obstacles with remote work technology requires taking proactive measures. This includes providing technical support and resources to address software and infrastructure issues, selecting and implementing robust communication and collaboration tools, prioritizing data security and privacy, and ensuring equitable access to necessary resources and specialized tools. By addressing these challenges head-on, managers can effectively lead and empower their remote tech teams to achieve success. 

Challenge 4: Scheduling

Differing schedules and time zones can make scheduling meetings or calls difficult. 

Solution:

Overcoming scheduling issues is important for remote teams to ensure effective collaboration and coordination. Managers creating an online poll that lists selected dates and times that team members can choose from orcalendaring apps to assess participant availability can make the process of scheduling a meeting less stressful. It is also important to establish boundaries and set realistic expectations around attending meetings and responding to after-hours work emails and texts.  

Flexibility to accommodate different time zones and individual schedules can help overcome scheduling conflicts. Rotate meeting times so that everyone has an opportunity to participate during their respective working hours and avoid consistently scheduling meetings during non-business hours for any specific team member. To enable flexibility in scheduling, its crucial that team members to keep calendars up to date with availability. 

Use collaboration tools like GitHub, GitLab, Jira, or Asana, which are designed specifically for software engineering teams. These tools allow team members to track progress, collaborate on code, and manage tasks and workflows.  

Challenge 5: Culture

Without the culture of the office and face-to-face interaction, employee interpersonal relationships can feel strained. It is crucial to the cohesiveness of a work team that managers implement measures that replicate the same feelings of community and belonging that exist in the physical office workplace. Remote work also makes culture-building activities like events and celebrations that build a sense of community more challenging. 

Solution:

Building culture and community starts from the top with how the manager or business owner interacts with workers. Managers should support in-person attendance wherever and whenever possible at company events, celebrations, all-hands meetings, etc. as well as organizing regular virtual team-building activities to foster a sense of camaraderie and connection. This could include online games, virtual happy hours, or team challenges. These activities provide opportunities for team members to interact in a more relaxed and social setting. Managers should also provide resources and support to help team members maintain their mental health and well-being and overcome any challenges they might face.  

By implementing these strategies, remote tech team managers can help alleviate feelings of isolation, foster a positive team culture, and create a cohesive and engaged remote team. 

Conclusion

Managing remote tech teams can come with certain challenges, but with proper communication, technology, and collaboration tools in place, as well as a supportive and flexible management style, they can be extremely efficient in maximizing outcomes. By following these tips and strategies, managers can overcome the challenges of managing remote employees and create a productive, engaged, and effective team. 

The Momentum team has vast experience and success working in a remote environment. To learn more about managing a remote team, contact us today.