Working well with a remote team does not need to be challenging, unpredictable or stressful. The remote team can be a nearshore or offshore team located in a vendor’s place or within its own subordinate structure. All it needs is good business planning and a little goodwill that fosters trust throughout the organization. Some of the questions that would arise while planning to take up the idea of a remote team are:
- Will the team integrate with your company’s culture?
- How successful will you be in communicating your actual requirement?
- Would your remote developers be productive?
- Would you be able to scale your remote team?
It’s completely normal to ask these questions before working with a remote team. However, by following certain approaches, you can manage your team more effectively. This article will discuss a few of them. Keep reading!
Implement a Clear and Effective Project Management Approach
We must handle the project in a way that keeps both the in-house and remote teams on the same page. The Scrum Agile management process has proven highly successful in such settings, with several companies adopting it to foster a culture of accountability and reliance, while also enhancing team productivity and adaptability to changes. You can also use some of the cloud-based project management tools such as JIRA, Asana, or Smart sheet.
Foster a Cohesive and Transparent Development Environment
To build a successful team, members must communicate decisions across all geographies and remove friction in the development setting. Each team member should clearly understand the work being done and immediately report any issues, bugs, or fixes. Briefly, the entire development process should be completely transparent across the organization. This clarity helps everyone see exactly where the project stands and where it is going.
Leverage Automation to Maximize Productivity
Smart automation is crucial for a successful remote team, as you would want your team to focus on high-impact work irrespective of dealing with dull, time-demanding tasks. For instance, testers often repeat the manual data entry process to find bugs, but automation can replace this repetitive work and allow individuals to focus on tasks that require real brainstorming.
Navigate and Adapt to Time Zone Challenges
One of the key challenges of having a remote team is managing the time-zone differences. Both the in-house and other teams must adjust their schedules to ensure seamless collaboration, prepared to handle requests from the teams in trouble. Businesses could accomplish ’round-the-clock’ efficiency if developers in different time zones are assigned to the project’s diverse aspects.
Share and Reinforce Your Company’s Core Values and Goals
The organization’s strategy. Vision, mission, and ideas must be efficiently communicated to each member of the remote team. They should be prepared to adapt to the company’s culture and work within it to achieve both the company’s long-term and short-term objectives. Frequent team travel to facilitate in-person contact is always a bonus. It helps in building long-term relationships and shaping the culture.
Utilize Technology to Improve Team Engagement and Morale
There are tools which can be helpful. Enterprise chat, such as Slack, could help with asynchronous communication. Video conferencing could help build and encourage personal connections. Note taking tools like Ever note can aid in brainstorming ideas and facilitate real-time sharing with others. Trello could help track smaller items. Air table could help in the online collaboration of Excel. However, the IT department may have limitations on using some of these tools, and you must select the ones that best align with your needs.
Final Thoughts
Successfully managing an offshore team comes down to clear communication, shared goals, and the right use of tools and processes. When you create transparency, share your company’s culture and vision, and use smart automation and agile methods, managing remote teams becomes a real strength. With the right approach, your offshore team won’t just support your business, they’ll feel like a natural extension of it, helping drive growth, spark innovation, and set you up for long-term success.
How Veridian Solutions Can Help?
Managing an offshore team becomes considerably easier with the right systems in place, and that’s where Veridian Solutions steps in. Veridian is a Smartsheet Gold Partner with deep experience helping teams get the most out of Smartsheet. As an experienced Smartsheet consultant, we build custom solutions that make communication easier, automate everyday tasks, and give everyone a clear view of what’s happening, irrespective of where they are in the world. Our flexible, hands-on approach helps remote and in-house teams stay connected, work smarter, and reach their goals with confidence.
