Getting the Most out of Distributed Teams
A recent piece on TechCrunch prompted that if you are looking for the next Silicon Valley, try looking nowhere. Well, not literally. Increasingly, startups are becoming remote, or even nomadic. Cloud services have expanded both workforces and workspaces at a global level. So how do you get the most out of distributed teams? I spoke with Dinamis’ Partner Success Manager, LouAnn Hunt to answer that very question. Her answer?
“If you want to get the most out of distributed teams, there is one rule; Communication.”
The Two C’s (Clarity and Courtesy)
“It has been said that email, chat, slack, etc. is the lowest form of communication and your intent may be misconstrued due to lack of visual queues (i.e body language, voice). Therefore, it is essential to be clear and courteous,” said LouAnn.
It’s amazing how simple communication can be when done right. Yet, how foreign it can be when one element is done poorly.
Clarity and courtesy become exponentially more important when there’s a lack of in-person presence. 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project. People need to understand what you need and be able to clearly understand your tone (urgency).
If you want to improve your companies communication via text, here are some best practices.
Do not reply all unless there’s a
Always cc someone when it is relevant to them.
Put your main question in the subject line
In group emails, use names to direct questions and assignments with optimal clarity
“Also, since most communication is done over some form chat, please be sure to proof your text before sending. Oh and did I say proof your text, proof it again.”
Timeliness
“Remember many of your team members are spread across many timezones, therefore, answering your team member in a timely manner is essential.” Best practice for timeliness? If you can’t respond to an email in 24 hours, send an email acknowledging the request. Then set a timeframe in which they can expect a response.
Use the right tools
At Dinamis, our project managers have extensive experience working with distributed teams, both domestic and international. Hunt’s advice? “If I had any advice on tools, it would be to use the tools that work.”
Each business, firm, or organization, has a different way of accomplishing their work. Whether that is “good old excel spreadsheets to define our tasks with links to documentation” or more sophisticated software.
You can read more about the 7 best tools for accounting startups here.
Having a clear process with the right tools will save time and energy.
“Distributed teams are becoming quite the norm.”
The next Silicon Valley could very well be a combination of living rooms, coffee shops, and coworking spaces. What will be the determining factor is the management skills of those leading these distributed teams.
Curious about growing with Augmented Staffing? Click below to see how Dinamis can help you explore a distributed team solution.
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