Want to improve your remote team’s work dynamics? Here are the best management practices to boost your team’s performance.
In today’s fast-paced tech industry, IT professionals are experiencing a high level of stress. Globally, around 44% of employees report experiencing high-stress levels in the workplace. The pressure from managers, in particular, is one of the primary reasons for their daily stress. And with stressed-out team members come more problems and less productivity.
As a team leader, you may find your team constantly struggling with projects. This is especially challenging when you’re working in a remote setup. Companies expect the same level of productivity or maybe even more when you’re working from home. Hence, having the best management practices in place is critical to your success.
4 Best Management Practices to Try
Some of the best management practices involve giving team members more creative freedom and leadership roles. This challenges them to step up their game and boost their confidence in trying out new things. Additionally, it introduces a “fun” concept in doing stressful work.
Here are some of the best practices you can try out with your team.
1. Gamify
Gamification systems are an excellent way to encourage productivity among team members. By incentivizing the faster completion of each task, you challenge members to get creative in finding more efficient ways to complete their work. Not only will you get more work done, but it also introduces a fun dynamic in the team.
You can start with a points system wherein employees can collect points and then exchange them for certain rewards and bonuses. Prizes can range from personal items like Bluetooth speakers to more work-related ones like additional time off. Full Scale once gave out the latest iPhone as a prize during our year-end party.
2. Recognize hard work
Recognition and appreciation don’t necessarily have to come in the form of gifts; it may simply be praising members publicly for their excellent work. Creating a space for team members and managers to recognize one another publicly is one way to boost the amount of public acknowledgment employees receive. You can recognize them during a general meeting or at a formal company event.
At Full Scale, we often give appreciation awards to our long-term employees during company events. We recognize them during anniversary celebrations as they play a big part in our growth and success.
3. Team bonding
Everyone enjoys a good snack or meal. So providing food for your staff members can be a wonderful way to express your gratitude.
Treating your staff to some of their favorite food can go a long way in increasing satisfaction. You can do this by keeping the fridge and pantry stocked with snacks or by occasionally ordering a team lunch for your business.
At Full Scale, for example, we intentionally created a team bonding program to help our remote teams get to know each other. Through a variety of team-building exercises, the team development program seeks to strengthen the bonds between employees.
4. Internal Team Award
A fun approach for team members to regularly recognize one another would be to have an internal team award. Members of the team can choose the winner of the award on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
You can even get some specially made hardware for the winner to display proudly. Sometimes monetary bonuses or other forms of rewards are included with team honors. Just make sure that you set proper requirements before giving the award to show your best management practices.
5 Ways to Boost Team Morale
The best management practices are also about uplifting your team’s spirit. And when it comes to encouraging your team members, you have to be intentional. Here are some steps you can take to make their work arrangement easier:
1. Have personal check-ins.
Working in a remote setup can make building genuine relationships with your members difficult. Individual meetings are more effective than repeatedly reminding them as a group to share their thoughts. You simply establish better rapport in person. You foster an environment of trust and openness by talking with them directly.
Additionally, checking in with each member will help them feel seen and valued. Schedule one-on-one meetings and in-person meetups if possible. Discuss what you need from them and learn what they need from you. It’s important to hear out their thoughts and feelings about their current work setup. This way, you can resolve current problems and deal with potential issues before they blow up.
2. Be flexible in the work dynamics.
Remember that many employees currently face new stressors in addition to working from home. You probably have employees who now spend the entire day at home with their children or employees whose medical conditions have been made worse by the quarantine, for instance.
As long as the remote work continues, let people know that you’ll be permitting more flexible scheduling. Do your utmost to accommodate any needs that employees may have in order to continue working productively from a distance. If your time tracking or project expectations need to change, make the necessary changes while still achieving your objectives.
3. Offer more technology options to your team.
Never rely solely on a single piece of technology to communicate with your staff. For instance, email is frequently regarded as the least engaging method of team building. The best way to meet is virtual. However, think about meeting in small groups. Large virtual meetings can easily turn confusing and fruitless. Video conferences offer a more customized experience if any sensitive information needs to be discussed. Live chat apps should be used for time-sensitive interactions.
4. Create an agenda before a meeting.
Without planning, video meetings may not be productive. Make an agenda and distribute it to everyone who has been invited at least a few hours before the meeting. When you need to get the meeting back on course, you can use the ability to deviate from the agenda.
5. Set clear guidelines for all team members.
Remote team members must comprehend the necessity of accountability. Allow for some flexibility, but don’t be so lax that the project’s objectives aren’t met on schedule. Make sure everyone is aware of your demands for involvement, organization, and punctuality.
Build Your Team with Full Scale
Want to scale your software development team? Find the best IT experts in the field through Full Scale. With our help, you can assemble a reliable team of highly experienced professionals.
At Full Scale, we take care of all the time-consuming tasks involved in recruiting, orienting, and managing remote workers. We’ll help you identify the best software specialists to work on your project. Our aim is to collaborate with you to implement the necessary management and communication solutions. You can easily and affordably grow your team with Full Scale!
