Project Management for Remote Teams: 5 Simplest Way

Remote work has many benefits. But its biggest downside is the lack of control on your part considering project management for remote teams. Because even an employee monitoring software can be easily tricked. In other words, for work ethics of your teams, all you can do is trust them and wait for the results. And by then, it may already be too late. 

So, how does one streamline projects handled by remote teams without being too imposing and authoritative? How does one set the right company culture for remote teams? Most importantly, how does one effectively communicate with people working remotely on a project?

Well, here are four tips that should help make this easier. 

1. Start using the right project management software

One of the first things you need to do is pick the right project management software. The problem is this industry is inflated with so many tools . That is why itis often hard to tell them apart or figure out which of them are actually worth your time.

Picking this software is your top priority for project management for remote teams. Because this is the digital team’s equivalent to choosing the office to work and furnishing it. The choice of a platform means that you pick the UI that your team will spend most of the project staring at. And also you can customize it may drastically impact your team’s performance. 

tips for effective remote team collaboration and project management

Cloud-based tools are generally great for collaboration. They facilitate file sharing, enable your staff members to work on the same document simultaneously and offers more accurate version control.

These tools are amazing for remote work. Because it is how the majority of projects are run nowadays. This means that your staff members have an easy way of logging in from any device or location. You only need to instruct them on cybersecurity and introduce a strong BYOD policy. 

While some may advocate employee monitoring tools and platforms, this practice can cause adverse effects. For instance, you do not want your employees to feel like you are constantly looking over their shoulders. It lowers their mood. This is so understandable. Because it makes them more likely to leave and ruins productivity. And business owners sometimes act too cautious while they are sacrificing creativity and initiative. 

With good project management software, you can assign and monitor deadlines. Thus, you will be giving your staff members more freedom. 

2. Promote the right skills

You cannot reward individual performance and then complain about low level of collaboration in your team. However, you can start by making a short list of skills that you want in your employees.

Then, you want to praise, reward and give shout-outs to your employees when they display these skills.

How to manage remote project teams?

What matters the most is consistent messaging. It is like raising kids. Because they need to know what the rules are first. If they are unaware of the rule the first time, you should not discipline them. But you do need to tell them that their behavior is not okay. And you will try to tell them the full extent of consequences.

Also, they need to understand that these are your expectations. Hence, these are the rules regardless of the context. It does not matter if you are overworked, sleep deprived, feel more pressure than usual. Or have you may have personal problems at home or in your relationship. The rules need to be always the same.

Generally speaking, for project management for remote teams, you need to praise:

• Communicativeness
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Decision-making
• Strategic thinking
• Leadership

But we know that different people have different and strong sides. If you recognize what their stronger and weaker sides are, you will know them much better. You will also have an easier time guiding their career. When they solve challenges, they will develop a stronger appreciation for the work.

3. Stay in touch DURING project management for remote teams

The biggest challenge with remote teams checking whether they are working. Sure, you will see the deadline or the report. But you have to know before that, as well. So, you need to start by keeping the communication alive and going.

We are not just talking about forcing them to send you an email, write a comment on the collaboration platform or send you a message on Slack every day. Instead of this, you can schedule daily meetings. Even if these are just 10-15 minutes long, it could still make a difference. 

Managing a Remote Team

You need to check-in on them and ask them how it’s going. Hence, you may offer a deadline extension or more hands-on tasks if they doubt to finish it in time. It’s one thing to ask for help. But it is much easier to accept it when it is offered with no strings attached. 

This way, as their boss, you are acknowledging that the task is ambitious. And you are also offering them a way out without losing face. 

A big challenge with project management for remote teams lies in the fact that it’s harder to inspire loyalty. What you need to do people talk each other and you could even consider organizing virtual team-building activities. This is an interesting concept o apply.

Today, even some real-world friendships are maintained digitally. Because people text more than they meet. So why should keeping a strong collegial bond be impossible? 

4. Provide them with the necessary tools

Employees in the actual office usually have it all covered. When working remotely, a lot of people are need their own equipment for project management for remote teams. This is not just fine but completely intuitive. After all, you will not buy a $2,000 laptop for a new remote employee. Some equipment is basic and expected by everyone to acquire on their own.

At the same time, they will need some software licenses to do their work. And it is in your best interest to create their accounts or pay for their subscriptions. There are two reasons behind this.

First of them, some of your employees might avoid getting these in order to reduce their operating costs. Their profit margin is lower than yours. And even if they see it as a productivity tool, they might be reluctant to add this extra expense.

Why project management for remote teams

Here we had several tips for effective remote team collaboration and project management.

Second, it might even be much more cost-effective for project management for remote teams. Enterprises usually have special plans and package deals. These are costlier but allow them use from more devices simultaneously. This means a lower cost compared to what you would pay if you make employees to pay individual licenses. 

Recognizing bottlenecks before they cause a problem is the key to proper project management

The problems of project management are still the same. But the only thing that has changed in the digital era is their nature when it comes to project management for remote teams. Your most important task is to provide necessary tools for work. As well as, you must ensure communication flows without problems and you are nurturing a supportive business culture. Neither of these things should be too difficult to achieve.