7 key actions for successful management of remote development teams

The fast-paced evolution of tech and recent changes impacting our work and lifestyle create additional challenges for leaders in each field.

However, challenges do not necessarily set us up for failure. They can be viewed as opportunities to grow and beat competition if we let our adaptability shine. As if you were navigating a ship through a storm, you need a solid strategy to be your stability base when leading a remote developing team through turbulent times. In order to secure your way to success, we present you the seven key actions for your toolbox:

1. Simplify the daily grind

A clean, smooth and effective way of operation will result in highest reliability. Choose a single communication platform for sharing work-related data while using other ones for team building, “offline” chats and memes. Consider using an online team management software to track progress and assign tasks transparently without taking up extra time for communication.

2. Know your team

A turbulent environment brings enough external surprises on its own. You do not need surprises in your own yard. Knowing each team member, their personal and work priorities, as well as any exciting or rough periods they are going through, will give you a clearer picture on what to expect in terms of their performance and productivity. Also, even with an extremely diligent and productive input, the outcome can be substandard if you assigned an inadequate task failing to understand someone’s strengths and weaknesses.

3. “Over-communicate” the expectations and the Why

Working outside the office is complex due to numerous distractions and the lack of corporate environment which would otherwise stimulate the brain to get productive. Therefore, what would be considered over-communication in a standard work setting is a correct amount in a remote setting. The critical things you need them to do must be repeated in a simple and effective way, as well as the purpose of the whole effort in order to keep their drive. This allows the crucial message to break through the obstacles of an unnatural work setting on the other side.

4. Delegate

Yes, you are a part of the team too. This does not necessarily mean it is smart to do the same type of work as anyone else. Your role is not only to manage the Now, but also to create a Tomorrow for your team. Strategic thinking must stay on the top of your priorities. It will yield great results, but it requires you to see the big picture in high resolution first, then analyze it and design its projected path. Delegate the small stuff in order to make room for this. One factor that makes this easier said than done is that smooth delegation requires planning. A remote team leader sticks out by staying one step ahead and anticipating workload for delegation. This allows for timely preparation of respective team members, as well as for communication of the task value, so they would not be in constant illusion that they keep being given unimportant miscellaneous work outside their area of responsibility.

5. Offload

If you want a cohesive team, you need to make room for its 360-degree growth. Work is only a small sector of that circle. What are the other ones? Find out by setting time apart for an online fireside chat! This will not only help blow off steam, but also provide an opportunity for everyone to discuss important items in an informal setting. Investing in this time can save you a lot by avoiding collaboration friction later on. Plus, you will end up with a better situational awareness than you would, had you walked out of yet another unnecessary meeting where nobody says anything meaningful, as that could make the meeting longer.

6. Go for “important” rather than “urgent”

People will work in different time zones. The end goal is for them to perform and deliver results, not to stay over-vigilant and stressed out. This is why you should aim for a standard to acknowledge any instruction, request or a change to those, as well as respond with excellent work. However, is it really critical that the reaction happens right away? Not for 90% of things. Make your team comfortable in their role and expect the greatest of them. Trading quality for speed would degrade most things for them and for you, especially if it is an unreasonable time of day for communication of that nature.

7. Set the bar high without using any of those words

A productive climate will always create more than any instruments for coercing team members to do so. That being said, coach and mentor your team to stay on the top of their game while avoiding pressure. Great leaders achieve this with tools that, among others, include setting a personal example, practicing servant leadership and helping their subordinates grow. A strong personal example will target those that are on the verge of going an extra mile, but just need a little extra confirmation that doing so is necessary not go unnoticed. Practicing servant leadership means providing all the tools they need in order to perform the way you expect. When team members feel you have their back, they will be more confident to vouch for their own work, resulting in its higher quality because they owe you. Finally, investing in their training will not only keep them in your team, but also up your overall game. A deliberate application of these techniques is bound to make your team stand out.

The stability and sustainability of a team depends not so much on the challenging environment as much as it does on inner factors such as organization, communication and planning. These seven actions will assist in focusing your effort. To maximize their output, we ask you to view them as constant processes and keep competing with yourself to become even better at each one. The market is evolving, asking of us the same. Those who see that as an opportunity rather than an obstacle will be the trend setters for 2022.

As an outsourcing software development company based in Serbia, Revel helps you increase your productivity and shorten time to market by building high-performing and cost-effective dedicated teams.

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