Being a leader requires possessing the top qualities of remote managers, regardless of the size of the team or the remote company. Cultivating these attributes can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is feasible. Moreover, having a diverse staff brings numerous learning opportunities that can enhance your leadership skills and inspire you to motivate your team effectively.
Let us begin by discussing the prerequisites that need to be met. Essentially, you want a remote manager who possesses the same skillset as an on-site manager. Nevertheless, the approach will significantly vary.
We are confident that our selection of the top qualities and strategies remote team leaders should possess will be helpful as you prepare to drive your remote workforce to the next level.
The 5 Key Characteristics of a High-performing Remote Manager
1. Trust in Your Team
As a manager, you have dedicated your time and effort to training your team to achieve optimal outcomes, showcasing your ability to practice effective transactional leadership. What other approaches exist for instigating positive transformation?
It’s crucial to understand that remote work time cannot be precisely measured. The number of hours put in each day does not necessarily indicate productivity or worth. Ultimately, what matters most are the results attained.
Establishing well-defined working hours and ensuring their adherence is imperative. However, it is unjustifiable to anticipate receiving frequent updates from a remote worker every hour. Setting up suitable and attainable goals is crucial, but micromanaging should be avoided as it can turn out to be unproductive.
The cornerstone of effective remote management is having trust in your team. Avoid questioning your employees’ commitment unless they give you a reason to do so.
If you are acquainted with Gary Vaynerchuk’s philosophy on trust, you would know that trust should not be something to be earned; rather, it should be given unconditionally.
By demonstrating your trust in your remote employees, you can motivate them to perform their best, as they’re frequently more enthusiastic about proving their value to the company in comparison to on-site personnel.
Remote managers who can place their trust in their team and provide them with the necessary support are highly regarded.
2. Embrace Technology
It’s apparent that possessing the appropriate tools and being adept at their usage is fundamental for successful remote management. This stands as one of the most vital qualities to possess.
Through conducting online research, you and your team can discover the most suitable resources to assist you in managing the challenges you’re presently encountering.
There are numerous remarkable tools available to enhance your team’s communication, organization, document sharing, and time zone management capabilities.
To save you some time, listed below are a few examples:
- G Suite is a collection of tools that includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Hangouts, offering a convenient and centralized platform for teams to collaborate and connect from any location.
- Boomerang is a tool for scheduling and following up on emails that assists you in tracking down recipients who haven’t replied to your messages.
- Slack and Trello are sophisticated platforms that can enhance communication and collaboration between team members, alongside a variety of supplementary features. Slack is also an exceptional tool for facilitating informal conversations among co-workers, encouraging meaningful interactions in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Skype and Zoom provide free audio and video calls, in addition to virtual meetings, which are critical in the present work landscape, where even traditional gatherings are frequently held virtually.
- World Time Buddy‘s time zone conversion tools can be utilized to efficiently plan and schedule conference calls, webinars, and overseas meetings.
- Dropbox is a cloud-based file-sharing service that enables you to upload files and share them with your team.
- Basecamp equips teams with constant updates on their projects’ progress, enabling all members to comprehend their particular roles and responsibilities without ambiguity. This guarantees efficient allocation of work and provides everyone with clarity, eliminating confusion and fatigue.
These resources assist users in staying organized, devising logical plans for their tasks, and improving their productivity. Additionally, they contribute to nurturing a sense of cohesion within the team.
3. Achieving Success with Online Conversations
Improving communication skills is a valuable asset in both personal and professional relationships. Check out our blog post on weighing the pros and cons of an on-site versus remote SQL developer position.
When your significant other refuses to speak to you without explaining why, how can you possibly resolve the issue?
In situations where in-person meetings with your team are not feasible, it is crucial to provide precise instructions and constructive feedback to ensure that they understand the necessary criteria for each task, including the deadlines.
Maintaining regular contact with your team is crucial for their productivity. Ensure that they are aware that they can approach you if they require any assistance or have inquiries. Additionally, give them sufficient space to complete their work without feeling excessively monitored.
As mentioned earlier, using a combination of the resources mentioned should facilitate keeping up with various methods of virtual communication. A crucial skill for remote managers is the ability to learn and effectively utilize new technologies.
By having meaningful conversations with your employees instead of just giving orders, they will feel more valued and appreciated.
4. Setting Realistic Goals and Expectations
To prevent recruitment and separation expenses, it is financially prudent to confirm whether a potential employee intends to stay with the company long-term.
Ultimately, it is desirable to recruit individuals who are not inclined to frequently change jobs and who can develop into significant contributors to the team.
Upon hiring an individual, it is imperative to establish a clear routine for them to follow, including details such as working hours, milestones, meetings, progress reports, and regular check-ins to monitor project progress.
Recognizing and rewarding employees who exhibit loyalty to the company and consistently exceed performance goals and standards is important. A bonus or modest salary increase can have a significant impact.
As a remote manager, developing your staff’s drive to consistently aim for more is crucial. This will enable them to exceed expectations and attain greater levels of success. Working towards cultivating this attribute regularly is of the utmost significance.
5. Invest in Building Relationships.
Investing in your staff and encouraging them to do the same is critical, as long-distance relationships can be challenging at the very least.
Engaging in non-work-related conversations on Slack can improve team morale and productivity. By discussing topics beyond work, colleagues can feel valued and appreciated. Celebrating significant events such as birthdays and work anniversaries should be encouraged in the workplace.
If possible and within the budget, it is advisable to schedule in-person meetings, as they can aid in cultivating stronger relationships and enhancing morale, which may be challenging to achieve through digital media.
Adjusting to remote work may take a period of adaptation, and it is important to keep in mind. Essential qualities include self-belief and perseverance, as the required skills will not be mastered immediately. However, with commitment and concentration, you can quickly develop the necessary expertise to excel in remote management.
Managing a remote staff is not significantly different from overseeing an on-site team, with the exception of a central office.
Adjusting to a digital work environment can take some time, but with efficient communication and a positive attitude, effective remote management can be achieved.
We are confident that once you have a firm grasp of the fundamentals, you will find remote work to be enjoyable and fulfilling. After experiencing the online environment, you may be reluctant to return to a conventional physical workspace.
Effective management of remote teams requires several essential qualities, including trustworthiness, proficiency in relevant tools, excellent virtual communication skills, and the ability to form strong connections. These traits aid in ensuring progression towards individual and team goals, as well as personal development.
If you want to learn more about how Works operates, we would be thrilled to explain the significance of these technologies to our everyday operations. Please do not hesitate to contact us without delay.
