27 March 2023
How To Build A Successful Remote Team: IT, Digital And beyond
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the implementation of remote/hybrid work practices across the board – and they’re not going away any time soon. The past three years have seen the most revolutionary changes to how we work in modern history.
As the world emerges on the other side of coronavirus, these changes look in part to be irreversible in some industries – particularly in the IT and digital sector, which Hunter Selection specialises in.
Understanding how best to develop and deploy these systems became of paramount importance from 2020 and it continues to be so. Building a successful remote team has its advantages, but it also presents unique challenges that must be addressed.
In this blog post, we explore building a successful remote team: the pros, the cons and the steps your company needs to take…
The Pros
- A larger pool of talent: with a remote team, you are not limited to hiring from a specific geographic location. This access to more talent means you can hire the best people for the job regardless of their location.
- Cost savings: building a remote team can help you save money on office space, equipment, and other overheads that come with a traditional office. This can keep your costs down and improve your bottom line.
- Increased flexibility: remote working allows employees to work from anywhere, at any time. This means that they can work around their personal obligations and have a better work-life balance – in most cases leading to increased job satisfaction for employees.
The Cons
- Communication challenges: communication can be a challenge when working remotely. Without face-to-face interaction, it can be difficult to build relationships and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
- Isolation: remote workers may feel isolated and disconnected from their team. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and in some cases makes it more difficult for them to collaborate effectively.
- Technical difficulties: remote workers may experience technical difficulties that they cannot resolve on their own. This can lead to frustration and delays in completing tasks.
- Time zone differences: if you have team members based in different time zones, scheduling meetings and ensuring everyone is working at the same time can be challenging.
The Steps
- Hire the right people: when building a remote team, just as you would for an in-person team, it is important to hire people who are self-motivated, reliable, and able to work independently. Trust is a major underlying factor while working remotely.
- Provide the right tools: your team needs the right tools to do their job effectively. This includes communication tools, project management tools, and other software they need to do their job. This could also include providing a budget for an at-home office setup/workspace.
- Set clear objectives: It is important to set clear objectives for your remote team, which must strike a balance between being challenging and realistic. Examples include working to deadlines, communication expectations, working hours and, where relevant, performance targets.
- Encourage collaboration and support: this can be accomplished through scheduling regular video calls, creating opportunities for various team members to work together and by providing online training and mentoring.
- Build relationships: building relationships with your remote team is essential. This can include regular video meetings both one-on-one and in groups, online team-building activities and the opportunity to meet up in person once or twice a year.
As with anything purpose-built for success, the process requires careful planning and consideration – no two businesses are the same and no two employees are the same. While there are many advantages to building a remote team, there are also unique challenges that need to be addressed.
Here at Hunter Selection, we can provide guidance to take the guesswork out of team building and can help you ensure that the right talent meets the right environment. Personalities, company values and office culture all need to blend together to form the right team – and we help you navigate that process.
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