Some of the best resources for running your business successfully are the people who help get the job done. You know that a great team is necessary, but having an on-site staff isn’t always an option, or it may not work for your business model. While nothing can replace real-life connections, today’s innovative technology tools make remote work more accessible than ever.
Finding and Hiring Your Team
The first question to consider is how much help you need and whether to hire on a part-time, full-time, or freelance basis. There are several benefits to building your team with freelancers, especially if you have multiple unique jobs to fill but don’t need full-time staff. Due in part to the popularity of remote work opportunities, qualified individuals are freelancing these days across all kinds of fields.
Even though it’s easy to find people to work with online, you always want to do your own due diligence to ensure you’re making the best choice. When you can’t meet someone in person, it’s even more important to check references, test their skills, and allow for a trial period to make sure they’re a good fit. Along with qualifications, the qualities a candidate possesses can also make a difference in how well the team operates. According to Forbes, excellent remote workers value results, are self-starters and are natural problem solvers.
Making It All Run Smoothly
Your fabulous new workers are individuals who know their stuff, but you also need the right tools and procedures to integrate everyone as a team. Along with hiring the right people, this is what it takes for your operations to run smoothly and effectively.
Communication
When your workforce is remote, communication takes on a whole new meaning. On an individual basis, Medium recommends encouraging transparency by setting clear expectations and asking team members to always share their questions and concerns. Depending on how much other team members work with each other, you may also want to set regular virtual meetings so everyone can touch base. Sometimes, simply seeing or hearing team members together can give everyone more clarity and direction.
To make communication easier, use the tools that work best for your team. There are now software and apps for conducting meetings and video chats, including Skype, Google Hangouts, and Zoom. Another digital tool that many teams use is Slack, which allows team members to communicate through chats and also incorporates a platform for sharing work-related files.
Organization
Organizing and tracking everything that’s going on remotely is another absolute requirement for managing your team effectively. Project management apps are extremely valuable tools to make this easier. Two of the most popular project management apps are Asana and Trello. You may also benefit from tracking where everyone is on a project with the app iDoneThis.
No matter the size of your business, having a talented team you can trust, along with the right tools to operate smoothly, can take your success to the next level. When you go remote, you have more of an advantage because you aren’t restricted to a limited talent pool. This is a huge plus when you do it right because your number one resource — your team — is limitless.
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