The advancement of digital technology since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has been remarkable. As a result, software development roles have become one of the most sought-after remote job opportunities around the globe. Remote developers have adapted well to working from home, and many are likely to continue to prefer this method even when the corporate world starts to reopen.
If companies do not create an effective virtual work setting for remote developers, these individuals may choose to pursue a job with an organisation that can competently fulfill their remote working needs.
In this piece, we’ll go over eight ideas for efficiently managing remote engineers and keeping all of your projects on schedule.
Establish clear expectations
In order to effectively manage remote developers, it is essential to set clear priorities by establishing well-defined goals and objectives. This is particularly important when working with virtual teams, as it is necessary for managers to communicate their expectations accurately in order to prevent any confusion and ensure that all tasks are completed on time.
If you require your remote engineering team to generate a specific piece of code, it is important that they are aware of your needs, expectations, desired outcomes, and the timeline for completion. Ensuring that these are communicated clearly will help to ensure that the project is completed efficiently and to the desired standard.
Such explicit and quantifiable objectives will guarantee that your staff understands what you expect of them.Create rules for distant developers’ communication
When it comes to effectively managing virtual teams, one of the most crucial considerations is the implementation of an effective communication strategy. Rather than relying on one single communication route, it is important to develop multiple channels of communication to ensure that all team members are able to stay connected and informed. This can include a variety of methods such as email, messaging platforms, video conferencing and phone calls. Establishing multiple communication channels allows team members to be able to communicate with one another in a variety of ways and ensures that information is disseminated in a timely manner.
While a live chat medium like Slack is great for rapid explanations, send critical papers over email instead.
This baseline rule will prevent critical messages from being buried by irrelevant ones.
Additionally, it is recommended that remote engineers make use of video conferencing platforms, like Google Meet and Zoom, to address any misunderstandings that might have occurred due to communication through text-based channels. Utilising such technologies will ensure that all team members are on the same page and that any issues that may have arisen can be addressed in a timely manner.
Other than creating various ways of communication, you may accomplish the following:- It is essential to stay in contact with remote developers regularly to ensure that they are not facing any issues. To accomplish this, weekly and monthly meetings should be established so that developers can keep up to date with the progress of their colleagues.
- If you are uncertain as to whether a particular topic is important enough to address, it is advisable to err on the side of caution and provide as much information as possible. In other words, it is better to communicate more than is necessary than to leave room for doubt.
- Recognise their success and provide comments on a regular basis to offer them the opportunity to develop.
- Using project management solutions such as Trello or Jira can help remote engineers stay organised, remain on task, and collaborate more effectively. These platforms enable teams to plan and track progress on projects, assign tasks to individuals, and provide an online space to communicate and exchange information. By utilising these tools, remote engineers will be able to better manage their workloads, create transparency, and facilitate teamwork.
Keep track of time zone distinction
Companies that rely on virtual teams often find it beneficial to recruit remote developers from various countries around the world. While this approach can offer a wide range of advantages, such as access to a larger talent pool and cost savings, it can also present challenges related to managing operations across different time zones. This can make it difficult for the team’s manager to efficiently arrange daily operations.
Interpersonal contact and interactive feedback may be limited in virtual teams with engineers from various time zones.
As a result, managers should capitalise on time overlaps by arranging frequent check-ins and collaborative tasks. This will enable them to maximise the efficiency of their employees during this period.Avoid micromanaging remote developers
Remote developers are seeking the trust of their supervisors in order to be able to perform their tasks without regular monitoring. They have chosen to work from home because they value their autonomy and the ability to manage their own time.
If you continue to breathe down their neck, they will get frustrated, reducing their productivity and effectiveness.
By emphasising the consequences of their actions rather than focusing solely on their behaviour, it is possible to foster a culture of accountability, particularly when working with remote engineers from different time zones. Establishing responsibility in such a situation is essential in order to ensure that everyone is held to the same standards regardless of their location.
Resist the impulse to micromanage your team members as long as they achieve their deadlines and fulfill their obligations.Be adaptable
When managing a remote development team, it is inevitable that there are times when tasks cannot be completed due to technical issues which are out of their control.
As a team leader, you must be adaptable enough to take such events in stride and react appropriately to keep your project on schedule.Take into account your team’s thoughts and sentiments
It is of the utmost importance that you give due consideration to any input submitted by remote developers. While some of their ideas may be of great help in improving workflow and overall performance, others may be impractical to implement.
As a manager, you have the final say when it comes to decision-making. However, by taking the time to consider the opinions of your team members on a regular basis, you can show that their contributions are valued and appreciated, encouraging them to be more actively involved in the decision-making process in the future.
When managing virtual teams, you must go above and above to demonstrate your appreciation and concern for them.You may also achieve this in two more ways:
Ensure that they are paid on schedule for their task.
Recognise their contributions and express your appreciation for their efforts.Non-disclosure contract (NDA)
NDAs aren’t only for large corporations; small organisations with virtual staff may use this agreement to safeguard their intellectual property.
When engineers who are working remotely sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), they are committing to not disclosing any ideas, concepts, or projects that the organisation is working on to any outside parties without prior authorization from the organisation.Remote developers must be mindful of cultural differences
Working on a team that comprises of people from diverse cultural backgrounds requires an understanding of the cultural nuances when providing feedback or commenting on the way tasks are completed. It is important to remember that different cultures have different ways of approaching and responding to criticism, and so it is essential to be mindful of these differences.
It is important to be mindful of how your words and actions may be perceived by software engineers. Avoid using regional language or exhibiting a preference for those of the same cultural background, as this could create an atmosphere of alienation.
Summary
Though virtual teams have existed for some time, the epidemic has pushed corporations to recognise the advantages of working with remote engineers.
If you are able to effectively administer your remote software development team, you will be able to recognise that the physical location of your engineers does not have a negative impact on their productivity or efficiency.
You may use these suggestions to properly manage your remote team and guarantee that your engineers are a valuable addition to the firm.
When creating your software development team, sourcing and employing competent and experienced remote engineers is crucial.
Workplace is an expansive online platform that enables employers to source, discover and recruit capable, experienced engineers from around the globe. We provide a complete suite of services to streamline the talent acquisition process and make it easier for organisations to identify and hire the best engineering talent from any part of the world. Our services include access to an expansive database of skilled engineers, detailed information about their qualifications and experience, and advanced search and filtering functions to quickly identify the right candidates for the job. We also provide support through our team of experienced recruitment professionals to ensure that organisations are able to find the right people for the job quickly and efficiently.
You will gain access to a pool of one million of the most qualified and experienced developers who possess excellent technical and communication skills and are capable of meeting your specific needs.
Additionally, Works‘ well-established screening process evaluates candidates in accordance with Silicon Valley standards, allowing you to recruit highly skilled software engineers without consuming the valuable time of your engineering team.
