As remote working continues to grow in popularity, companies can hire top talent from around the world. Consequently, many managers will automatically change all their communication to be remote to accommodate remote working. 

It can be difficult with some workforces since their natural tendency is to meet in person at times for collaboration. 

You can use this blog to learn some strategies to streamline collaboration among virtual workers.

#1. Data and File Sharing

Collaborating remotely is much easier when there is a library where everyone can save documents and data. 

Ideally, everyone can access these files securely and make changes to them. 

All changes should be visible to the team immediately, with version control so that you can see the latest versions of documents. This approach prevents files from getting lost in spreadsheets or e-mails.

#2. Be Appreciative

To increase team engagement, performance, and morale, project managers should use their project management skillset to showcase the contributions of their team members. 

Although remote employees can still feel disconnected, discouraged, and stressed at times, they can also make a greater contribution than ever before given the fact that collaboration is so easy and accessible now. 

There may be less tolerance for slow career development or a lack of recognition in a disruptive employment market, so we may see a higher demand for recognition and acknowledgment. 

By giving small tokens of appreciation, such as a thank-you email or an online toast, you will boost productivity and keep your remote employees engaged with your organization. 

#3. Team Building

It’s important to have both formal and informal interactions within the workplace – virtual happy hours, online gaming, video calls with family members for example can help bond colleagues in a work office setting. 

These events can provide a sense of ease as well as camaraderie and trust that people may otherwise miss out on if they only ever communicated formally.

Furthermore, you can’t replace being in the same room. Even as virtual teams grow, it is still imperative for these teams to have meetings regularly.

#4. Agenda

Never start a meeting without having an agenda, especially if it is something short that’s not going to last for a long time. 

Teams are more liable to get off topic when there isn’t a structure in place, and instead of setting goals, they’ll be more focused on chatter which will then waste the time of the whole team and will defeat your purpose for having the meeting which is to improve productivity. 

Always make sure that every meeting has a pre-set purpose and make sure that the whole team knows about it to keep them on track and save time and other resources. 

#5. Collaborative Participation Across Channels

Managing remote workers requires an understanding of team personalities and communication styles. In order Tomost from your team, set expectations regarding what will happen at the first meeting. 

By communicating with them how long you plan on speaking during the call and where you will be focusing your attention during the call, you can do this. Before an “official” conversation or meeting, we suggest you and your team form a planning session. 

As a result, both parties will benefit from the call as well as possible future conversations as everything will flow smoothly without any unnecessary obstacles.

#6. Create a Knowledge Base

When it comes to any changes that are taking place, your team must be informed. 

Creating a centralized location is one of the easiest ways to do this, so that team members, especially new ones, are privy to all this information when and how they need it. 

When we have extremely busy schedules, we tend to take people at face value – after all, if someone is passing us a half-completed form, or comes out of an interview with half a page of notes, then surely they have more up their sleeve. 

Such loose management, on the other hand, does not allow employees to develop their skills or attract new talent to the company; nor does it allow you to fully control key decisions, such as product development. 

 #7. Communication Boundaries and Practices

Remote work is a great way to work at your own pace. Managers should support this flexibility by suppressing their urge to micromanage or follow up too much on tasks.

 Asking questions about how team members prefer to communicate when each individual is most productive, and when they like to go offline can be useful. 

Having these preferences communicated to the team encourages respect for each person’s boundaries and needs. 

The morale of a group can be raised and each individual can perform at their best. Since overlapping work hours may be few and far between, it is important to take time zones into account as well.

#8. Time Zones

When your company has employees spread across the globe, you must think carefully about how you manage their work and make sure no groups feel isolated from the rest of the company. 

Globalization is inextricably linked to time zones, and one has to accept that as much as one has to accept that people need sleep. 

It is also imperative for you to make use of tools to streamline processes when working virtually and with people from all over the world. 

Road To Better Virtual Collaboration

Remote collaboration is a great way to encourage a better work-life balance. 

At the same time, it can help you save money while accessing a large talent pool. 

However, there are some challenges that you need to overcome to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your remote workers.

And, in this blog, we have given you some tips for you to improve virtual collaboration between you and your team.

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