With Covid still lingering we still have organizations allowing staff to work from home. I started thinking about challenges Managers face with managing remote teams, ensuring targets are met and maintaining a healthy balance.

There are some obvious challenges however how can we overcome them?

Challenges

In-Person Interaction (Lack of):  When you have been used to working a few feet apart on a day to day basis, not being in the same physical location tends to hinder spontaneous conversations and could affect relationships.

Communication and Collaboration issues: Physical distance can make this difficult and the absence of spontaneous conversations could lead to delays.

Team Cohesion: It could be harder to maintain rapport and trust with the team without the face to face interaction.

Company Work Life Balance: Some managers have stepped up team delivery expectations feeling that this is needed to ensure the team isn’t slacking off. On the other side of the coin some team members blur the lines between work and personal life balance which could lead to burnout.

How to overcome these challenges

• Regular online meetings (video preferably) allowing time for informal discussions rather than straight “business chat”
• Encourage virtual team building activities.
• Set clear expectations but remind teams that it is okay to take breaks.

Remember that we have lives outside work and productivity increases when people enjoy what they do. Be pleasant and show them you care.