5 challenges with remote teams and how to overcome them
The idea of not commuting to the office every day, working from one’s preferred location, and having flexible working times (also known as remote work) has become the default working arrangement for many startups and even large companies. While this arrangement was mandatory during the most intense part of COVID-19, a lot of firms will continue to offer remote work even after the pandemic because of the many benefits it offers both the employee and the employer.
But the grass may not always be greener on the other side - as beneficial as remote work is, it has its own challenges. Now, the question is no longer about whether we should accept remote work, but about how we can tackle the challenges it brings. From team communication to internet connectivity, here are some of the biggest challenges with remote teams and how to tackle them.
Communication and collaboration challenges
In the office, employees are usually a table away from colleagues. They can get help anytime from the desk right next to them, clarify issues with colleagues while having lunch, and catch up on small conversations during those random office meetings. These occasions enable seamless communication and collaboration but are difficult to replicate in an environment where everyone works remotely. Differences in culture, location and time zones also compound the communication and collaboration challenges in a remote work environment.
Best practices: Communicate often through Slack or Zoom (over-communicating isn’t a bad thing!). Managers (if possible, everyone) should share their calendars to make it easy for colleagues to reach out for any clarification or just for some fun. You can also use tools to share, track, and manage work resources to ensure everyone has access to anything they need.
The challenges of team building
The absence of foosball, ping-pong and other perks in a remote work environment makes it difficult to succeed at team building. The differences in culture and time zones also make it challenging to find common ground to bring remote employees together to have fun and build relationships.
Best practices: Use Zoom breakout rooms to divide employees into smaller groups during weekly conference calls and set the environment for them to build relationships. Use Bar None Games to host virtual team-building activities, including trivia games, word puzzles, scavenger hunts, and team offsite - to help remote employees connect on a personal level.
Isolation and loneliness
Working remotely means employees may never meet their colleagues or managers physically. While this comes with its own freedom, it sparks a sense of isolation and loneliness among remote employees - that you are just a Slack message or an email away can be discouraging. Once loneliness and isolation rise, workers may feel like they are not part of the company or that they are not making an impact.
Best practices: Host virtual parties and team off-sites for your remote employees to help them take their minds off work. For teams that can afford it, a once-a-year offsite to bring the team to a physical location to have fun and brainstorm new ideas can help instill a sense of belongingness into remote employees while helping them beat loneliness.
Difficulty unplugging from work
For some remote workers, it can be challenging to disconnect from work when your workplace is also your home. Failure to unplug yourself from work may cause burnout, physical pain, dwindling productivity, and, sometimes, issues with mental health.
Best practices: Managers should help remote employees set their start and end times at work, define expectations, and schedule regular breaks.
