When it comes to achieving goals and milestones in a corporate environment, having a solid, well-oriented, and balanced team is essential. No matter the funding, experience, or established brand name, companies always need highly equipped teams to tackle tasks and deliver results. However, forming such teams has changed over the last few years. More and more companies have grown fond of the idea of international teams, and with that also comes the practice of hiring remote teams. So the question arises, how do some of the most successful companies establish productive and self-motivated remote teams?
Understanding the Need For Remote Teams and Their Benefits
There are multiple examples where companies have created remote teams and have reaped the benefits of such formations. Spotify is the perfect example of a company that understood the invaluable aspects of allowing their employees to work remotely as part of specific goal-oriented teams. According to (Aman Kidwai, 2022) “In February 2021, Spotify announced its new work model called “Work From Anywhere.” The policy lets employees determine how often they work from the office and where they work, as long as the company has an operation there.” Furthermore, Kidwai explains that the new work model has been beneficial for the company and the employees.
Spotify is only one out of the numerous global brands that have enjoyed the perks of having a remote team. It Is possible to also enjoy the following benefits of a global remote team in your business.
1. It Saves You Money
Because your remote team works from their homes, it saves you the cost of maintaining or paying for a workspace. Your employees would either create a workspace in their homes or find a more comfortable workspace to work in. Also, since your team does not have to come to the office, you are able to save the transportation allowance. Basically, having a remote team helps your organization cut down on costs.
2. Access to Global Talents
When building a global remote team, you will have access to a large variety of talents from all over the world. The beauty of it is that you don’t need to pay to bring them over to your country. The best individuals worldwide will get your work done while working remotely. Technology has made global employment easier. You can list your application on available digital recruitment platforms and hire the best candidate. However, your HR team has to be equipped with the adequate resources needed to onboard the best global talent.
Bear in mind that you may require an interpretation translation system to effectively communicate with your multilingual employees.
3. Work Continuation
When you hire a global remote team, you can be confident that they will be available around the clock. Your global employees are working in different time zones. This means that when some are asleep, others are awake and working in another time zone. As a result, the work process is consistent. Continuous work processes, on the other hand, will increase productivity. Hiring people from different time zones ensures that your organization operates around the clock. You can adopt this opportunity if you want to boost your company’s productivity.
4. Work-Life Balance
In general, establishing a remote team provides your employees with a better work-life balance. Many employees would prefer to work remotely because it allows them to focus on other aspects of their lives while still taking their job seriously. Working remotely allows your employees to spend more time with their families, take breaks when they are stressed and have a more positive attitude toward their jobs. When your employee has a positive attitude toward work, it will undoubtedly reflect on their performance.
5. Few Days Off
Most remote workers take fewer days off than employees who come to work every day. Employees who must report to the office on a daily basis are considered to be more stressed due to transportation and the working environment. However, because of the comfort of their surroundings, remote workers spend more time working and have fewer days off. Some remote workers prefer to work on their off days because they see it as a way to reduce their workload.
How are Successful Global Remote Teams Established?
For companies attempting to create solid international remote teams, there are a number of steps that they must follow. These steps have been meticulously designed to offer the smoothest pathway possible for creating such teams.
1. Determine the team structure
The structure of your global team will have a significant impact on your level of success. Before you begin recruiting, you must decide whether you want a fully remote team or only a subset of your team to work remotely. Determine which countries you want to hire from and how many employees will be hired from each. You should also decide which time zone you want to use for consistency. You will be able to create a successful team by structuring your team.
2. Recruit Thoughtfully
You must be certain that the person you are hiring is ready and willing to dedicate their time to do the job. Working from home can be tricky considering the fact that you can’t supervise your employees in person. As a result, you must ensure that the person you are employing is passionate about the job and is willing to help your organization without supervision. It would help if you seek people who have the discipline and drive to do the job, not just individuals looking to make money in comfort.
3. Establish guidelines and set rules
For you to ensure that your team is working effectively, you must create strict rules for them to follow. Your guidelines could include the time they must sign into the system or a turnover deadline. You already know what works for your organization, so set rules accordingly. You should set expectations for your remote team so that they understand what is required of them and how they can accurately deliver it. In an organization where there are no rules, everyone would do what pleases them.
4. Maintain solid communication channels
Communication is one of the most important qualities of a successful team. You must ensure that you build a solid communication channel with your team. It is even more important since you don’t get to see them all the time. If you do not communicate with your remote team, it would be difficult to know what they are struggling with in the job. Communication can also help you discover ideas from your team which can help transform your organization. Essentially, you need to communicate regularly with your team so as to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
5. Provide the team with all of the necessary resources
If you care about your team’s competence and performance, you must ensure that they have everything they need to thrive. You should invest in the capacity development of your team. One method is to enroll them in PMP certification training or to pay for online courses. Taking this type of training will help your team grow intellectually and work more effectively. If you discover that one of your team members is struggling, ask them how you can assist them and make sure that they have everything they require.
Proven Strategies for Creating Successful Global Remote Teams
When in the recruitment process, it is essential for companies to understand and pinpoint the exact requirements for their potential remote employees. As such, this may become a difficult task that requires aid from professional employment agencies. Imagine a setting where a certain company is interested in forming a remote team that has its members residing in Europe. In this scenario, an international PEO would come in useful. For example, an international PEO in Spain could be contracted and trusted with the task of recruiting the best of the best for the company’s international and remote team. Other strategies for successful global remote teams include.
1. Have an Online Presence
Hiring a global remote worker is increasingly becoming a digital process. As a result, having an online presence is essential if you want to easily attract your preferred candidate. Having an online presence allows your company to reach a larger audience. As a result, when you hire, they will take your vacancy more seriously and apply. Before applying, many online clients want to know who is hiring. Employees may flee if you do not have an online presence, such as a website or an active social media account.
2. Utilize Global Recruitment Platforms
You can hire global employees through a variety of digital recruitment platforms. The internet has made it possible for qualified candidates all over the world to meet with foreign clients in need of their services. You will find your preferred candidate quickly if you search on these platforms. Some of the most popular recruitment platforms include Upwork, Fiver, Freelancer, LinkedIn, and so on. Make sure to include a detailed job description so that only qualified candidates will contact you.
3. Test Their Competence
It is critical to test a potential candidate’s competence before onboarding them into your team. Most of the time, a candidate’s quality is not reflected in their portfolio. Before hiring them, you can put their professionalism to the test by conducting an interview or assigning them a task. Whatever you do, make certain that they have everything it takes to help your team succeed.
Maintenance and Incentives for Global Remote Teams
The idea of global remote teams is highly attractive to companies. However, such a task comes with additional duties and responsibilities. Maintaining a local team is difficult enough as it is, and that is why maintaining and managing an international team could become burdensome if the managerial approach is not adequate. So, what is recommended with regard to this aspect?
1. Regular briefings
Briefing your team on topics of interest or upcoming issues on a regular basis keeps them up to date on company-related issues. Briefings provide an opportunity for your team members to come together and learn about your organization’s goals and what is expected of them. It also gives you the opportunity to communicate with your teams. It is critical to brief your team on a regular basis so that they are aware of any issues that arise within the organization.
2. Continuous staff training and development
If you invest in your employees’ development, you are doing your company a huge favor. Your employees cannot give what they do not have. By regularly training and developing them, you are increasing their capacity to help your organization succeed. Although you cannot always see your remote team members, you can send them learning resources. You can also consider paying for courses that will help them improve their skills.
3. Adequate compensation and incentives
Compensation and indentures are a sure way to motivate your staff. By compensating your staff whenever they do well, you are gearing them up to do better. You would also create positive competition within your team, and everyone would strive to do better. You can add some incentives for fast delivery time and other positive achievements. By doing this, your team members would develop a better attitude towards work.
4. Additional benefits
Employees will perform better if they know you care about them. By including additional benefits such as health insurance and travel insurance in their incentive package, you will demonstrate to them that you value them and consider them an important part of your organization. Employees who do not receive additional benefits will not exceed their limits because they understand that they are responsible for their own well-being. Adding benefits to the job is another way to keep your team interested and motivated.
5. Perpetual support and motivation
One of the things that keep employees in a company is continued support and motivation. Your staff members are people. On the job, they may occasionally become exhausted, make mistakes, or lose motivation. The level of support they get from the company is what aids this type of employee in getting back on track. There is a greater likelihood that an employee will want to stay with a company that supports them. As a result, you should support your remote workers as much as possible.
Longevity and Advancement in Global Remote Teams
One very important aspect that must not be overlooked is the position of the employees in the international remote team. Given that the number of remote positions is highly increasing and going up by the day, establishing room space for the advancement and promotion of the team members is a crucial and highly focal point. Thus, a promotional strategy and reassurance that contributes to the desire of the employees to return to the company upon the expiration of their contract must be entrenched. As mentioned, this is achieved through reaffirmation and acts of appreciation that come in the form of promotions, financial advancements, benefits, and more.
The employer’s position must also include an open-door policy. Employees do not want a boss with whom they cannot communicate. Making yourself available to your employees will ensure that they stay. Employees want to learn from you, and you can learn from them as well. Creating a policy that requires employees to contribute gives them a sense of belonging.
Key Takeaways from the Process of Creating a Global Remote Team
The process of creating a remote team based internationally comes with many hurdles along the way. Nevertheless, if the above-mentioned steps and aspects are implemented accordingly, a global remote team can be assembled and maintained successfully. Recruiting strategically, motivating properly, advancing the team, and conjoining an adequate approach with an objective-oriented plan will inevitably result in a prosperous and flourishing international remote team. Thus, although difficulties are present during this process, creating a global remote team will accelerate a company’s overall performance and enhance the possibilities for development.
Bear in mind that the kind of team that you build will determine the success of your business. Therefore, you must do all it takes to ensure that you put together a competent global team that will spearhead your company to the next level you aspire to get to.
