If there’s one thing every business leader has learned this year, it’s that managing a remote team takes special skills. While research shows that there are many benefits of remote work — flexibility, increased job satisfaction, reduced turnover — there are also many challenges.
Since we at eBillity have years of experience helping businesses learn how to manage remote teams, we’ve compiled our best resources here. From overcoming the challenges of working remotely to implementing a time tracking system, here’s everything you need to know to make managing a remote team easy, efficient and effective.
How to manage a remote team: Getting started
If you’re just beginning to pivot to a virtual workforce, you’re not alone. Figuring out how to turn in-person jobs into remote positions takes time. That’s why we created a guide for those new to managing remote workers, Shifting to a Work from Home Workforce.
This article will help you learn to:
- Create a remote work policy that focuses on the most immediate needs of your business.
- Use a system like Time Tracker to allow employees to enter data from anywhere, and use GPS tracking to/for businesses where location is key, such as construction and contracting.
- Start with small groups so you can manage the challenges before deploying your plan widely.
- Create and share schedules instantly to ensure everyone is working enough hours without extra overtime.
How to manage a remote team: Finding the right tools
With so many apps and tools available for managing a remote team, it can be difficult to determine which will actually help your business overcome the challenges of working remotely. We break those down in our article, The Top Tools for a Virtual Workforce.
In it, you’ll learn all about:
- Improving communication with tools like Zoom and Whatsapp, which can equip your team to receive support and guidance as needed.
- Implementing team-building tools such as LinkedIn and Slack, which encourage employees to take pride in their company and build relationships.
- Fostering a shared vision and setting goals by using recognition and incentive programs.
- Safeguarding against time theft and promoting productivity with tools like Time Tracker.
- Delegating and tracking tasks with a project management system such as Trello.
How to manage a remote team: Overcoming the challenges
The challenges of working remotely are different for every business, but there are a few issues we’ve identified as universal:
- Time theft, which happens when workers are paid for time they didn’t actually work. It’s a problem 75% of businesses face, and US employers lose roughly $11 billion annually because of it.
- Diminished productivity, which occurs when employees get distracted by family members, chores, errands or increased access to TV, phones and the Internet.
- Lack of structure and communication, which happens when there’s no clear system for assigning projects, scheduling shifts, tracking progress and so on.
Find specific, straightforward ways to overcome the challenges of working from home in our Top 3 Remote Work Challenges + Solutions.
How to manage a remote team: The complete guide
Everyone needs a go-to resource when they have questions about managing a remote team. We’ve created two:
- A single web page — How to Manage a Remote Team — that gives you a concise outline for all things remote work
- An eBook — Overcoming the Challenges of a Remote Workforce — that walks you through every step of improving productivity and profitability, specifically using a tool like Time Tracker
Ready to get started?
Now that you’ve got every resource at your fingertips, take some time to explore them and let us know if you have any questions.
When you’re ready to get started, try Time Tracker on us! Just use promo code HOMEOFFICE to get an extended 30-day free trial.
