Strategies for Enhancing Open Communication and Collaboration in Remote Teams

Working with remote teams can present unique challenges for organizations, but effective communication and collaboration tools help overcome these hurdles. Utilizing the right software can streamline processes and foster a cohesive team dynamic, even when team members are located across different time zones and regions.

One such software is Connecteam, which offers a range of tools for file-sharing, checklists, digital forms, time clocks, and task management. These tools, along with smart onboarding features, make Connecteam a cost-efficient solution for remote teams.

Here are a few steps organizations can take to enhance open communication and collaboration with remote teams:

Set Clear and Consistent Expectations

Working with remote teams requires clear communication about work hours and meeting times. As Leo von Wendorff, the owner and CEO of Virtual Knowledge Workers, suggests: "Business owners should establish expectations early regarding their employees' work hours... My tip is to be clear about which hours [employees should] work before you hire them."

Understanding the different time zones and how they affect when people are available for meetings is crucial. Set clear times when everyone needs to be available and document these times to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Use Universal Time

Universal Time (UTC), also known as Greenwich Mean Time, is a standard time that can help manage teams working in different regions. Base your scheduling communication around a standardized time set to avoid confusion. This ensures that everyone is aligned regardless of their local time zone.

Establish Times that Work for Everyone

Maintaining effective communication with remote teams can be challenging, especially when scheduling meetings. Small Business Information Insight and Resources offers a few solutions to this issue. Consider making your scheduling decisions as fair as possible to all parties. Rotate meeting times semi-monthly to ensure that no team feels consistently scheduled at an inconvenient time.

If you're managing multiple teams, try to accommodate even the smallest teams to keep their morale up. This consideration shows that you value every member of the team and can go a long way in fostering a positive remote work environment.

Utilize Project Management Software for Enhanced Collaboration

Project management software can significantly improve communication and collaboration in remote teams. According to our research, project management software improves workplace communication by 52%. Here are some tools that specifically help with remote team management:

Brief

Brief is a productivity app that combines team chat, video hubs, task dashboards, and file sharing and storage. Its clean, minimalist dashboard helps teams focus on priorities that drive the most impact. Brief can eradicate the need for email, making communication quicker and more focused. Research shows that 73% of all emails received by employees are not even relevant to their roles.

Brief's collaborative features allow teams to easily connect to anyone in the world in real time, whether through face-to-face meetings or chat/team hubs. This makes decision-making more efficient and effective, leading to a more focused team that achieves more together.

Asana

Asana is a project management software designed to help teams ditch email. It integrates with storage options like Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive, although it has a strict 100MB upload cap for individual documents. Asana provides a birds' eye view of tasks, ensuring all teams are on the same page. Its collaboration features take a bit longer to learn, but they are extremely powerful and likely unmatched in the market.

Conclusion

Improving communication and collaboration in remote teams requires a combination of setting clear expectations, using universal time, establishing fair scheduling practices, and leveraging the right project management software. By implementing these strategies, organizations can foster a more productive and cohesive team, regardless of geographical distances.

Stay connected and collaborate effectively with remote teams by adopting these best practices. Your team's success depends on it!