Is your remote team’s performance declining?
Perhaps they aren’t collaborating as much as you’d like or you need to find ways to enhance collaboration.
Although remote work has significant benefits to both employers and workers, it has its fair share of challenges. One of the major challenges is getting employees to work together on projects.
Don’t fret, though. There are effective strategies you can implement to promote to enhance remote team collaboration.
1. Hire Remote Employees with Great Teamwork Skills
The key to building remote teams with members that love to collaborate is to put workers who love teamwork in those teams.
Not everyone excels in a collaborative environment. However, expecting such employees to collaborate, whether in the office or remotely, isn’t diligent utilization of your human resources.
If you’re currently recruiting remote employees, test every candidate’s teamwork skills before hiring. With a team of collaborative workers, it’s easier for them to achieve higher levels of remote collaboration.
If you already have remote teams in place, now is the best time to reevaluate those employees’ teamwork skills. If there are workers to whom collaborating isn’t a strength, it’s best to reassign them.
2. Provide Tools That Facilitate Remote Work Collaboration
Without the internet and computer technology, remote work would not be impossible.
Though, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your employees are set to go remote once you provide them with a laptop and an internet connection. Yes, they can communicate and collaborate via email and video call, but there are more powerful collaboration tools that will make it easier for remote teams to collaborate.
Invest in tools like Slack and Zoom. Although the free versions of these tools are effective, pay for premium subscriptions if you want enterprise features. And with paid versions, you’ll unlock greater team collaboration and productivity.
3. Set Goals for Your Remote Teams
People collaborate to achieve a certain goal. In the workplace, the goal is to help the organization meet its goals. So even when there aren’t any workplace teams, employees will naturally work together as needed.
When you want to improve remote team collaboration, however, you cannot assume that the natural urge to collaborate will continue. Away from the watchful eye of the boss in the workplace, remote workers may have no incentive to collaborate.
That’s why it’s essential to set goals for your remote teams. With something to pursue and achieve as a team, remote workers will have a greater incentive to work together.
4. Invest in Communication Skills Training
To collaborate effectively, your employees need strong communication skills. They need to have the confidence to reach out to their colleagues and clearly articulate their message. Investing in communication skills training is an ideal way to enhance your employees’ oral and written communication abilities.
Get Your Remote Teams Collaborating!
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is now a thing of the past, many businesses are still managing remote teams. You want your remote teams to be just as productive as in-office teams. Implement these remote team collaboration tips and you’ll see an increase in productivity.
Head over to our business section for more workplace advice.
