4 Strategies for Putting Together a Virtual Group

Are you suggesting that the nature of work will become decentralised? Well, this so-called “future” might not be as far off as you think.

Over the past few years, the number of individuals working remotely has grown significantly, with more than double the figures recorded a decade ago, as per several research studies conducted. Contrary to any pre-existing notions that “remote work isn’t a good fit for us”, this could be an opening for organisations to reap financial benefits. Reports suggest that companies who have embraced the decentralised approach can save up to $11,000 per employee every year. Additionally, Automattic – the company that owns WordPress – operates with a wholly remote workforce, even though their software powers a staggering 16 percent of the internet.

Nevertheless, there are challenges to surmount when it comes to managing a team that is spread out geographically. To overcome these, utilise the following methods:

Effective communication is crucial.
At Works NYC, we recognise the significance of team camaraderie, and we remain committed to it by conducting daily video stand-ups at 9:30 a.m., involving our colleagues stationed in Singapore and Nairobi. During these stand-ups, team members must give brief updates on their progress towards achieving the objectives set for yesterday and today. This practice ensures that everyone is up-to-date with their colleagues’ activities and also serves as a means to keep everyone alert and engaged by 9:30 a.m. We value the importance of maintaining team unity and take pride in our startup that promotes the same.

Buffer, a global social media firm with remote workers spread across the US, the UK, and Asia, took the idea of fostering communication between employees up a notch by developing an algorithm that pairs different coworkers every week for a one-on-one video chat. This innovative approach has enabled the company to establish solid, meaningful relationships between employees.
Set the Right Foundation.
At Works, we recently recognised that robust relationships within a team are vital for successful remote communication. Therefore, we will be sending our developers to your headquarters for a two-week onboarding period. It is often difficult to feel at ease when participating in video conferences with unfamiliar individuals, and misunderstandings can occur more easily when written communication is used with sarcasm.

Intuit employs “Engagement Specialists” who are responsible for planning activities and events for remote workers to keep them engaged and informed.
Elevate the Bar.
Right from the beginning, it is crucial to instil a sense of accountability among remote workers. This implies more than just signing onto Slack while binge-watching Game of Thrones. Instead, employees must demonstrate the necessary traits to effectively carry out their responsibilities outside of a conventional office environment. To ensure that objectives are met, it is vital to define what constitutes success, establish a timeline, and carry out continuous evaluations.
Implement Suitable Approaches.
Distributed teams necessitate effective communication tools, such as Slack and Google Chat, to maintain productivity and efficiency. However, it’s easy to become overly reliant on these platforms, and the numerous notifications they generate may overwhelm even the most committed worker. To avoid this, we recommend that teams choose one communication platform and use it consistently.

After trying out various project communication tools, such as Trello, Basecamp, and Asana, we concluded that Trello is the most effective and efficient option. To ensure successful communication between our staff in Singapore and Nairobi, we rely extensively on Google Hangouts and Google Drive. Both of these platforms have been incredibly useful in enabling clear and consistent communication across great distances.