3 Weaknesses Exposed in Your Business when Working Remotely

Working virtually often uncovers the flaws in your organization. Working flexibly, or remotely, might be the new trend; however, if there are not remote processes and policies in use, there will be bumps along the way. Here are three of the flaws that just might be exposed once your teams work virtually and how you can overcome them or prevent them from occurring.

Communication Breakdown

How any organization communicates is vital, but when your teams are all working remotely, considerable thought should be devoted to your methods of communication. Communication does not just include the tools used, but should also focus on tone, active listening or reading, grace, and extending the benefit of the doubt. 

Never assume you have correctly interpreted the tone of a co-worker’s email or text. If you are in doubt, pick up the phone and have a conversation. Don’t make this a confrontational conversation. Have the discussion over the phone and not in a text or email. Not only will you quickly realize your assumptions might have been wrong, but you will promptly resolve the work task and get to know the team member a little better in the process.

Human interaction goes a long way, especially between remote teams. Utilize video conference as the preferred meeting modem between groups as well as individuals. Experiencing virtual face time is a vital part of creating healthy remote teams.

The number one rule for remote teams regarding communication is to extend grace and the benefit of the doubt before jumping to conclusions. 

Task and Project Management Systems Failure

Task and Project Management systems are powerful tools allowing remote teams to work effectively and collaboratively on projects as well as everyday tasks. Most of these tools allow for communication, document storage, and creating workflows. 

When team members fail to implement these properly, the entire team suffers. Assigning these to the correct person, including all details and steps, and marking them as complete are important parts of the process that must be executed in order to make them work for your organization.

There are many choices, but some of our favorites are Asana, Trello, or Basecamp. Each application has its own look and flow, and you might have to give a couple a try before you settle on the one that’s right for your team. You might also want to consider their capability for integration with other apps. Asana can integrate with both Gmail and several of the time tracking applications.

Loss of Trust

It seems obvious, but you wouldn’t hire someone you didn’t think you could trust, right? Of course not! Trust is something that is typically earned or given until proven otherwise. 

Working remotely takes dedication, structure, and time management skills on the part of the worker. On the company side, you need to have reliable processes and policies in place and utilize tools and systems allowing your team to be efficient and effective. You also need to set clear goals and expectations and then trust your team to do the job you hired them to do.

Feedback is critical in remote work situations and vital to building trust with your team. Make sure your team members know what they do well, what they need to improve, and that their contributions are appreciated. In return, they will work harder, trust you, and contribute to a healthy work culture.

The flexible working trend is here to stay. Even if your company still has a brick and mortar office, it’s not a bad idea to embrace the tools and processes of a remote team. This allows employees and team members to work on days when the weather, sick kids, or other obligations keep them out of the office. With remote teams that work flexibly, your team won’t miss a beat, and they will be grateful for the option.

If you are looking to add a team member, then you need the professional help We Recruit Well can provide. Schedule a time to chat with our recruiting specialists today.