Managing remote teams amplifies some of the dynamics inherent in on-site teams. Some of these are:
Communication. On-site teams rely on verbal and nonverbal communication to accomplish tasks. Managing remote teams means relying more on digital forms of communication such as chat messages, email, video, and app notifications. For this reason, team management apps for remote teams need to be synchronized in real time to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes.
Oversight. On-site managers can directly observe their teams’ activities and progress. Remote team managers therefore need reliable tracking technology such as GPS time-tracking to adequately monitor members’ statuses on the job.
Collaboration. On-site teams enjoy instant collaboration and brainstorming sessions. Remote team managers need to overcome distance and time barriers to successfully facilitate team collaboration on projects.
Flexibility. While on-site teams have the advantage of real-time communication and collaboration, remote teams enjoy greater flexibility and adaptability. For example, remote team managers can assign workers nearest to a project site to ensure speedy resolution of issues and tasks.