These days, more companies are realizing the benefits of putting together remote teams. Not only are remote workers generally less stressed and more passionate about their work, but companies who hire remote workers have fewer on-site costs and complexities to deal with, as well as a larger number of qualified job candidates to choose from.
Even so, building a good remote team comes with its challenges. You have to make sure you hire the right kind of workers for your team, take steps to maintain company culture, and keep your workers happy for the long-term. That said, if you do it the right way, putting together a remote team could be one of the best things you ever do for your company’s growth.
For those considering going the route of a remote team, this article will discuss ways to make sure you build a team that helps your business flourish.
Interviewing and Testing Candidates
As with any work team, the hiring process is critical when putting together a remote team. Not only do you want to ensure you get qualified workers, but you also want to ensure the workers are a good fit for your company. Be sure to interview any candidates you’re considering; live interviews are best, but virtual interviews can also be effective when they’re the only option. During each interview, cover the scope of the work you’re expecting to be done, and try to get a feel for how the candidate would mesh with company culture.
Along with conducting interviews, give each candidate a paid test project to complete. The project should be relatively short, and it should have a deadline. This will give you a picture of the quality and timeliness of work the candidate can offer the company.
Hiring a Virtual Assistant
One of the first positions to consider filling is that of a virtual assistant. No matter what kind of business you run, virtual assistant freelancers are an affordable way of improving your remote team. These assistants can cover a wide range of minor tasks—from invoicing clients to scheduling meetings to updating social media pages—so that you can devote your attention to managing and growing the business. To find skilled and reliable candidates, be sure to check out freelance job boards online.
Communicating Effectively
Due to the nature of remote teams, effective communication must be a priority if your team is to help your business flourish. Make sure your team members have all the tools they need to keep in touch and collaborate on projects. Set guidelines for when each worker is to be accessible, and schedule regular meetings to keep the entire team up to speed. Also, ensure that each team member is contacted individually from time to time to see if there is anything they need.
Collaborating Well
Good collaborating is more than simply the sum of individual efforts. If you want your team to sustain success over the long-term, you will need to embrace the unique qualities that each individual can bring to the table.
This starts with the hiring process; look for candidates who have expertise in their field but who also have different backgrounds and experiences. Then, by valuing and considering each worker’s perspective and ideas, you can improve your products and services exponentially. A lot of it comes down to trust. Showing your team members that you trust and value their contributions not only will improve your company’s work, it will keep the team happy and thriving.
If you need to give your business a boost, building a solid remote team can do the trick. Remember to adequately interview and test each candidate to ensure they’re a good fit for your company. Also, consider hiring a virtual assistant to take care of smaller tasks, and take any necessary steps to communicate and collaborate effectively. Most importantly, always keep an open mind to ways you can take your team—and business—to the next level.
Article By: Tina Martin