How To Manage Remote Teams & Keep Them Connected

May 24, 2022

Illustration of Carl the yeti on a computer networking with people remotely around the world.

Anyone who’s supervised a team can tell you that management is downright hard. But managing remote teams? That’s even harder!

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been managing remote teams for 10 months or 10 years; it’s a whole different world out there. COVID-19 changed the game for thousands of companies worldwide, forcing them to pivot to telecommuting work and virtual lunch hours. Can you say ‘learning curve?’

Because of their digital presence, it can be pretty tricky to engage remote teams in the traditional sense. With different time zones, responsibilities, and deadlines to consider, the very idea of meaningful connection can give you a headache. But what if we told you that remote team management doesn’t have to be a nightmare? With the right tools and tricks of the trade, connecting your online teams could be a process that virtually runs itself.

Let’s break it down by category, shall we?

How to manage a remote team

Managing a remote team is no easy task, and we won’t pretend like it is. That’s why we’re breaking this elephant down into four digestible parts: connection, recognition, leadership, and listening. Let’s take a closer look at each of these below.

1. How to keep a remote team connected

image with text - Companies that communicate effectively retain employees 4.5 times better than others.

Just like in-person groups, remote teams crave connection. And they want a real human experience, too. The proof? Companies that communicate effectively retain employees 4.5 times better than others, making it a win-win for everyone.

Start by connecting your teams through community and interaction. Whether that means social media or a virtual happy hour, be sure that it’s consistent and accessible. Letting employees thank each other is another great way to boost connection — more on that to come.

Bottom line — equip your teams with social tools, apps, and software that allow them to connect with ease!

2. How to keep remote teams engaged

Ah, engagement. The buzzword of the century! Only 34% of employees actually feel engaged with their work, which shows how little this element is managed in remote workforces. Coincidence? We think not!

If you want to generate long-term engagement that matters, consider using recognition software with an international presence. Recognize software from Motivosity allows remote teams to thank one another with monetary rewards, and receive a constant flow of love from their coworkers. It also provides your team with social feeds, creating authentic engagement in spades.

No matter where they hail from, make your remote team feel 100% engaged and recognized in the workplace.

3. How to bring remote teams together

Where do teams come together most often? Under the supervision of management, of course! But managing from afar can be wonky — especially when you’ve never met face to face. More than 50% of employees will leave a job if they feel disrespected by managers, remote or not. What to do?

image with text - Teach supervisors to lead with confidence, and set priorities across the entire department.

Turn your managers into a secret weapon, bringing everyone together without creating unnecessary friction. Teach supervisors to lead with confidence, and set priorities across the entire department. Above all, nurture feedback coaching that helps employees know where they stand in their job performance.

Edify your managers, then edify your teams. Easy peasy!

4. How to listen to your remote teams

Even if you’ve done everything else right, not listening to your remote teams is a major no-no in management. Remember, virtual teams can’t just stroll into the office or chat by the water cooler. 30% of disengaged employees say they don’t feel heard in the workplace, which can be bad news for your organization!

image with text - Develop methods of listening to your employees in real time, leveraging the power of pulse surveys to connect anywhere, anytime.

Develop some methods of listening to your employees in real time, leveraging the power of pulse surveys to connect anywhere, anytime. Encourage your remote teams to be honest in their responses, and be sure to encourage an open-door (open screen?) policy whenever possible.

Remember: your team is counting on you to listen to them. Don’t leave them hanging!

Use Motivosity to come full circle

Although it’s completely possible to implement each tenant of management on your own, it could be pretty difficult to balance alongside other responsibilities. Worse, it might not pan out exactly the way you think it will.

So why don’t you give Motivosity a shot? Our powerful engagement and recognition software is jam-packed with the tools you need to make a difference in remote team management. Recognize your employees, educate your leaders, and connect employees to their goals with just the touch of a button. And if you don’t need all this at once, no worries. We offer four different pricing plans with plenty of room to scale. Just pick the suite that works for you, and get going!

Take the Motivosity software out for a spin by inquiring about a demo at your earliest convenience. Interested in more of the specifics? Give us a call at (801) 758-7188 to chat about our solutions to remote workforces. We’re ready to get this thing rolling! Are you?