The software development industry and remote work have fused together, much like the perfect pairings of tacos and guacamole or beer and pretzels. Even before the onset of Covid-19, a significant number of professionals in software development were already accustomed to working remotely.
Recent research has confirmed that remote work significantly enhances productivity, fosters a more positive work environment, and lowers costs. However, in order to reap these benefits to the fullest extent, it is crucial to have motivated and dedicated remote engineers. To guarantee successful remote work, the following factors should be considered:
Learn more about ensuring successful remote working.Training Remote Programmers
If you are new to a workplace environment, it can be challenging to integrate and feel like you are part of the organization you are working for. When you feel disconnected from your team, your motivation and enthusiasm for the job can wane. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly onboard new hires to ensure successful remote work.
Although we have previously shared an extensive onboarding guide, here is the condensed version if you’re pressed for time:
- Granting your remote worker access to the network and setting guidelines to support and direct them.
- Establish clear expectations regarding their work hours and behaviour, and adhere to those standards.
- Schedule a video call to introduce them to everyone they would typically meet during an in-person workplace tour.
- Incorporate enjoyable activities into team meetings to facilitate team bonding and camaraderie.
- Assign them a task or a significant, independent project to enable them to learn and become accustomed to the job responsibilities before delegating sensitive assignments.
There’s no need for complicated procedures; simply utilize remote communication tools to shift the onboarding process online.
Determine the Core Values that Fuel Your Business
Over the past decade, with the emergence of Generation Y and Z in the corporate world, the significance of organisational culture has become more evident. Both cohorts of young individuals seek employers who share their values and offer competitive compensation to meet their financial requirements.
A fundamental human need is to feel a sense of inclusion in a community. Countries and cultures can foster this by serving as a unifying force. If your company has a well-defined identity and goals, it will be much easier to attract employees who will support these objectives and work diligently to achieve them.
Devoting time to assimilate a new employee with the company’s culture and expectations is an effective approach to encourage their assimilation. Does the organisation offer flexible working hours or does it require employees who finish late to prepare coffee for their team in the morning? Do team members have the autonomy to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes, or are tasks required to be executed precisely as specified?
An effective method to promote employee engagement with the company culture is to offer branded items that reflect their identity and job. Surprise your remote developer with a gift that will enhance their sense of belonging to the team, such as a mug, mouse pad, or t-shirt.
Encourage Learning and Development
Remote workers frequently have concerns about being deprived of opportunities for career growth and advancement when compared to their in-office counterparts. Therefore, it is critical to provide remote employees equal opportunities for professional development and training.
Incorporating various learning methods is crucial to ensure that every team member is knowledgeable about the latest progress and innovations in the industry. This may involve enrolling in online courses, dedicating resources and time for self-education, or attending conventional training sessions. Additionally, in-house training is a viable option; with advanced technology, it is possible for team members located in different parts of the world to collaborate through screen sharing.
Maintaining the engagement of remote employees is critical, and it is vital to avoid ignoring them within the organisation, including Human Resources, the company newsletter, or senior management. As a supervisor, it is your responsibility to ensure that their contributions are acknowledged and that they are considered equal to any other team member. You can achieve this by frequent communication, recognition of their work, and providing them with any necessary support.
Communication for Remote Teams
When collaborating with remote teams, it is crucial to maintain effective communication. If there is no existing communication policy between members and management, it is necessary to establish one. Identify the communication channels the team uses and determine their purposes. Moreover, establish the frequency and mode of reporting progress expected from team members. Many teams employ various modes of communication, such as email, telephone, texting, video conferencing, and instant messaging.
- Video Conferencing for Virtual Meetings
- Chat
- Task Coordination Tools and Software
- Data Version Control System
- Convene a brief daily “stand-up” meeting with the entire team
- Individual Conversations
Achieving the correct balance between overseeing your team’s progress and over-management is vital. To effectively manage your team, you must be open to experimenting with various modes of communication before determining the most effective one. Moreover, you should be flexible and willing to make necessary adjustments as needed, depending on each team member’s unique requirements.
The Benefits of Laughter
Jack Torrance’s observation that a lack of play can render one dull is valid; however, introducing a social element in the workplace can counter this. Recent studies have affirmed that allowing employees to socialise can significantly increase productivity, as it enhances the creation of team spirit and a sense of unity.
Arranging group outings, such as bowling, with a remote workforce can be more difficult, but creating social activities to celebrate successes and encourage team bonding is still possible. This could entail starting and/or ending meetings with brief conversations, or planning a company retreat in a place like Bali. For a middle ground option, virtual coffee breaks, online games, and pizza parties are excellent ways to promote fun and relationship building.
Family and Friends Matter Too
Establishing trust with remote developers is critical to effective teamwork, and building a strong relationship requires a significant investment of time. One of the most robust methods of earning a remote developer’s trust is to have faith in your hiring process.
At Works, we are devoted to assisting your business in accessing the finest software engineers who work remotely. Simply provide us the pertinent requirements for your job vacancy, and we will develop a pool of candidates interested in remote work opportunities. We are dedicated to delivering outstanding technical recruitment services for remote positions.
