Managing Remote Teams: What’s Your Secret Sauce?

Question

Remote work is here to stay, and managing remote teams has become both an art and a science. From time zone juggling to building team culture, it’s no walk in the park.

💡 Here are my top 3 not-so-obvious tips for managing remote teams:
1️⃣ Fewer, but better meetings: instead of frequent check-ins, schedule fewer but more intentional meetings. Use async updates (video or chat) to keep everyone in the loop without disrupting their flow.
2️⃣ Focus on outcome over hours: encourage your team to focus on delivering results rather than clocking hours. 
3️⃣ Recreate the “watercooler” moments: remote teams often miss casual bonding. Use Slack channels, virtual coffee breaks, or even team gaming sessions to bring those organic interactions to life.

💬 I’m curious: What’s your biggest challenge when managing a remote team? And more importantly, how do you overcome it?

CY Zhou · Accepted Answer

building trust

TJ Larkin · Answer

Been starting our meetings with personal and professional wins, and it's seriously the best change we've made to our remote culture. At first, some team members were shy about sharing, but now? Everyone's excited to jump in with their wins - both work and personal ones. Creates this amazing energy that carries through the whole meeting.

Prince Virani · Answer

Monitoring Productivity and Team Engagement, for monitoring keep asking about the updates

Sergey Koshevoy · Answer

@tjlarkin Thanks for sharing! Definitely worth trying!

Maggie · Answer

Communication matters a lot

Answer

Hi @koshevoysergey! As a remote worker, my secret to managing remote teams includes clear communication, flexible scheduling for different time zones, and building trust through virtual team-building activities. These strategies help maintain productivity and team cohesion. I hope it helpful

Answer

Share information with team members openly and transparently. This will help create a sense of trust and keep everyone feeling involved in the decision-making process. Also gives them flexibility in setting their working hours. because it will help increase productivity because they can work when they feel most efficient.

Shawn Idrees · Answer

I swear by async updates and trivia nights for keeping us connected!

NatashaWilliams · Answer

Hey there! Managing remote teams, it's all about trust and clear communication for me. I make sure to have regular check-ins, not just for work stuff but also to catch up on how everyone's doing personally. It helps to keep the team connected and motivated. Also, using the right tools for collaboration and project management is key. What works best for you when managing remote teams?

Answer

I've cut my meeting in half with async tools like Loom it's amazing.

Answer

My quarterly retreats help me bond and stay motivated as a team.

Answer

Clockwise has saved me so much time dealing with my time zone issues.

Answer

My focus on setting clear goals so I don't stress about hours.

Bruce · Answer

@lightfield yes accept

Managing Remote Teams: What’s Your Secret Sauce?

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