{"id":12256,"date":"2020-04-10T14:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T11:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/?p=12256"},"modified":"2026-02-26T17:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:30:04","slug":"challenges-managing-remote-team-how-overcome-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentlms.com\/blog\/challenges-managing-remote-team-how-overcome-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven challenges of managing a remote team and how to overcome them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being part of a remote team was already common in today’s workforce. However, it wasn’t until recently that companies were forced \u2014 and didn’t just choose \u2014 to work beyond their office walls. As a result, some were caught by surprise.<\/p>\n

Because the truth is that managing a remote team can be quite challenging, <\/strong>especially when you want to do “business as usual” and have your employees work in a way that makes them feel like they\u2019re working toward the same goals.<\/p>\n

Besides, all this global crisis will change the way we work forever, and working from home will be the new norm. So, keep reading for the seven most common challenges even experienced managers of remote teams usually face<\/strong>, as well as the strategies you can use to overcome them.<\/p>\n

1. Communication<\/h2>\n

Communication is the key to success when working with remote teams. It\u2019s critical to gather input from all members and to know what each person is working on. When teams work remotely, it isn\u2019t always easy to foster open communication. Traditional email marketing often seems like a formal tool that doesn\u2019t enable quick conversations.<\/p>\n

One way in which many remote teams overcome this is by creating a dedicated place for communication<\/strong>, whether among employees in the same department or freelancers working on the same project. An internal team communication tool<\/a> like Slack can allow for communication to come across on many channels. Future employees can also see the answers to commonly asked questions.<\/p>\n

No matter what tool you decide to use, as long as there\u2019s a way to foster two-way communication<\/a>, remote workers won\u2019t feel isolated from one another.<\/p>\n

2. Tracking work and productivity<\/h2>\n

Do you know how much work your remote team accomplishes and at what rate? For many managers, the answer to these questions is unclear. It\u2019s hard to know if someone is being underutilized or is not pulling their own weight when working remotely without an understanding of their productivity.<\/p>\n

For this reason, remote managers need to establish ways to track productivity for all employees<\/a>. This can include setting up metrics for how much work is expected to be completed each day,<\/strong> such as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Creating and maintaining a company blog.<\/li>\n
  2. Scheduling 20 social media posts per hour.<\/li>\n
  3. Making 150 cold calls per shift.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The KPI metrics<\/a> you choose to evaluate the productivity of remote employees should also be the same criteria used for in-office employees. This ensures that there are clear expectations in place, regardless of how and where your team works.<\/p>\n

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    3. Company culture<\/h2>\n

    Company culture takes time to cultivate and involves hiring the right employees, fostering healthy communication, and instilling that culture across the board. Whether you want to create a professional company culture or a team that\u2019s known for being fun and energetic, it will take more concentrated effort to develop in a remote team than in an office.<\/p>\n

    Sometimes culture is shaped in an office without much effort from the owner or manager. This isn\u2019t the case for remote teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Creating a healthy company culture<\/a> with a remote team that reflects your business\u2019s values requires a plan, much like any other project or initiative. It starts from the top with how the manager or business owner interacts with workers.<\/p>\n

    For instance, if you want to foster a culture of open communication, remote team members need to be able to communicate with everyone, including the CEO, with a virtual \u201copen door\u201d policy. If you want a company culture that\u2019s fun, try scheduling fun get-togethers, gift cards for employees to go bowling together, or hosting a virtual movie night.<\/p>\n

    4. Scheduling difficulties<\/h2>\n

    For global teams, one of the biggest challenges of working remotely is scheduling a phone call or a video meeting due to the different time zones. This can be amplified with independent contractors<\/a> who have inconsistent work schedules. Finding a time that works well for everyone requires knowing where your participants live and their general schedules.<\/p>\n

    First, there are tools you can use online to help make scheduling a call, video conference, or meeting with remote teams easier.<\/strong> From a simple online poll that lists selected dates and times that team members can choose to calendaring apps and a variety of websites and free hosts that assess participant availability, there are ways that make the process of scheduling a meeting less stressful. (It also helps if team members\u2019 schedules are flexible, since some time zones don\u2019t line up well with traditional working hours).<\/p>\n

    Plan to pay employees and independent contractors to attend virtual team calls and meetings. Some managers working with project-based freelancers expect them to take calls without pay or as part of a flat rate for working on a project, while managers themselves wouldn\u2019t go to a work-related meeting off the clock. Often, these managers are surprised when freelancers and contractors aren\u2019t readily available for calls and meetings. If a meeting or call is mandatory and work-related, plan on paying staff members to attend.<\/p>\n

    \"Seven<\/p>\n

    5. Building trust<\/h2>\n

    Building trust<\/a> is difficult for remote managers and team members. Managers worry that workers aren\u2019t completing work, while workers have a range of concerns, including whether they\u2019ll be paid on time (or at all, in some cases). Being transparent can help to build trust for all parties, especially when working remotely. You can build trust among a remote team by being transparent about:<\/strong><\/p>\n