Remote working has completely changed the way businesses are run. From increased productivity to better job satisfaction, there are many perks to allowing employees to work from the comfort of their own homes or with the flexibility of a hybrid setup. However, remote work naturally also comes with its own unique set of challenges.
With different employees working in different locations (and potentially even time zones) as well as the technical issues of working from home, finding solutions to these challenges will ensure that each of your teams can work cohesively wherever they are.
Here’s all you need to know about the challenges faced by remote teams and how to overcome them.
Are the challenges of remote work worth it?
While there are many potential advantages to working remotely, you won’t be able to take full advantage of many of them if you haven’t addressed the challenges of remote work
first. Remote work is different in every business.
While some teams benefit from having more time to focus at home, others may feel they miss out on that collaborative, in-person aspect of being in a traditional office. That being said, in most cases the advantages of remote work outweigh the challenges.
The perks of remote work for business owners include:
- Increased productivity
- Fewer absences
- Lower operational costs
- Happier staff members
- The opportunity to hire international employees
The perks of remote work for employees include:
- Fewer distractions
- An improved work-life balance
- Less time spent commuting to work
- The ability to accommodate requirements such as childcare
- Greater flexibility
Before making any big decisions, you should always consider the pros and cons as well as getting feedback from your employees. However, even just one of the above perks can make a big difference to the overall success of your business — which is why so many businesses across all industries have adopted remote setups over the last few years.
Should you be a completely remote business?
Since global lockdown restrictions have been lifted (and the peak for working remotely has passed) are businesses still fully remote? The answer is yes. Not only have some companies decided to stick with a remote working setup, but many new businesses are going remote straight from the offset.
As an established business, you need to think carefully before adopting an exclusively remote approach. Instead, make the transition slowly by trialing working from home days to create a hybrid work schedule. Think about the following:
- Is remote work practical for every department?
- How will we manage training and onboarding?
- Does remote work suit everyone’s style of work?
- How will the business maintain a strong culture?
- How much will remote work cost and how much will it save?
Don’t be afraid to make the switch to remote work as long as you’ve thoroughly considered the pros and cons beforehand.
What are the 4 most common challenges faced by remote teams?
Not having all team members in one space, like a traditional office, can have a significant impact on several aspects of your business. However, despite the peak of remote work occurring throughout 2020 and 2021, the model has stuck for many business owners, while many job hunters will now prioritize remote roles when job hunting. In fact, Upwork estimates 22% of the workforce (36.2 million Americans) will work remotely by 2025.
However, working remotely does have its challenges. So, if businesses are going to stick to this model, finding good solutions is key to employee happiness and productivity among teams. Here are some of the most common challenges faced by remote teams and how to avoid them:
1. A disconnect between team members and the wider business
When team members are not in the same location, it can be difficult for them to create connections and form relationships with each other — two things that are essential for collaborative work. Feeling uncomfortable reaching out to team members, for example, can result in regular mistakes that could’ve been easily avoided if employees felt better connected.
There are, however, several ways to improve team cohesiveness from the very beginning of someone new joining your business. A good remote onboarding process, for instance, will make new starters feel more connected to the team. This may include video call introductions with their team members, or pairing them up with another team member who can help settle them in. On the other hand, to avoid disconnect within shared projects, creating an internal knowledge base will ensure that everyone is on the same page, working to the same standard, and following the same processes.
2. Different levels of accountability among staff
When team members don’t have the same access to each other that they would have if they were in the same physical location, they may hold themselves to a lower standard of accountability. In the long run, this can lead to projects being late because individual tasks aren’t completed on time. It’s important to stress what’s required of your team members, whether they’re in the office or working remotely — and task management tools can help.
Asana is one tool that helps you manage projects, focus on what’s important, and organize work in one place for seamless collaboration. When projects are clearly mapped out with an assignee, this makes it clear who is responsible for what and when it needs to be done — this means other team members won’t have to pick up the slack!
3. Technical issues
Remote teams that rely on technology to communicate, store information, and collaborate face the possibility of having this technology go offline. When a staff member goes AWOL or doesn’t appear online, this can decrease productivity and generally make things like hosting online calls hard to manage. While you don’t want to start micromanaging your team and checking up on their every move, they do need to be online when expected!
A simple solution could be to provide your remote workers with good quality equipment including laptops, computer screens, and anything else they might need. If you have the budget to do so, investing in the right technology can help employees log in faster and start their day without regular issues.
4. Slow communication or replies
Good communication is one of the most essential parts of keeping your remote teams working efficiently. Since you can’t pop over to someone’s desk for a quick catch up or to ask a question, prompt responses to emails, messages, and so on make all the difference. Of course, if you have people located in different time zones the response rate may be slower, but effective communication should always be a top priority.
Email can be a good way of communicating in some instances, but day-to-day when you need to ask a quick question or share a document, there are better platforms for this. Business-wide tools such as Slack make communication easy. Plus, the various status options allow team members to show when they’re in a meeting or on lunch for example, giving others a clear indication of why responses may be slower.
Remote teams are a growing trend in the business world, but with this shift comes new challenges. However, with the right approach, any organization can find success with remote teams by creating strong team dynamics, communicating well, and forming collaborative processes. Creating a successful remote team is truly a collaborative effort and can be a very rewarding experience for all involved.
FAQs Covered in this Article
Q: What are some common challenges faced by remote teams?
A: The article outlines four common challenges faced by remote teams: communication, collaboration, maintaining productivity, and feelings of isolation.
Q: How can remote teams improve communication among team members?
A: Remote teams can improve communication by using various communication tools like video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management platforms. Scheduling regular team meetings, setting clear expectations, and encouraging open and transparent communication can also help maintain effective communication.
Q: What strategies can be employed to enhance collaboration in remote teams?
A: Strategies to enhance collaboration include utilizing collaboration tools and platforms, setting clear goals and expectations, encouraging a culture of knowledge sharing, and promoting team-building activities.
Q: How can remote teams maintain productivity while working remotely?
A: To maintain productivity, remote teams can implement time management techniques, create routines and schedules, establish boundaries between work and personal life, and encourage self-discipline and accountability among team members.
Q: How can remote teams address feelings of isolation among team members?
A: Addressing feelings of isolation can be done by fostering a strong team culture, organizing virtual team-building activities, encouraging regular social interactions, and offering support and resources for mental wellbeing.
Q: What tools and platforms can remote teams use to improve communication and collaboration?
A: The article does not provide specific examples, but remote teams can use tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Trello, and Asana to enhance communication and collaboration.
