Remote project management: expert tips for getting it right

Remote project management: expert tips for getting it right

Remote project management Photo by Vlada Karpovich: pexels.com

The concept of employees working in remote environments is not entirely new. However, the idea only started to emerge recently. It became possible - thanks to the emergence of new and advanced technology. They have enabled workers from various fields to perform their tasks from anywhere in the world, whether in their own homes or somewhere in the world. While adoption rates are gradually increasing, individuals and businesses remain undecided until the coronavirus pandemic hits. When COVID-19 broke out and caused most countries and businesses to close, the only way to solve the problem was to work remotely. And as the virus continues to rage and people continue to avoid travel as much as possible, one thing becomes clear: remote work will still exist.

Then, the accent is placed on the management of the concept; After all, working from outside the office is still a relatively new concept that we haven't tackled yet. Fortunately, there are elements that can help businesses and managers understand the idea. They continue to help their employees be as productive in the office as they normally would be: remote project management. This concept ensures that projects stay on track and deliver high quality results whether you are able to work under one roof due to COVID 19 or geographic distance.

Here are some remote project management tips to ensure your team can continue to work as efficiently as ever and ensure project success.

Pay attention to the effectiveness of communication: 

It is undeniable that face-to-face communication is the most effective. This is because communication through digital means and telephone calls is prone to misinterpretation and more. Therefore, it is important to oversee communication with the project team. Avoid email and use a proven tool instead. In addition, as soon as you see that there is room for improvement, you should immediately initiate the necessary changes.

Set specific goals: 

This is a general requirement, but becomes more important when the team is not working in the same place. And that's because the success of the project is highly dependent on all the stakeholders and team members being on the same page regarding the various aspects of the project and the work involved. A good starting point is to set weekly goals and adjust the approach based on project needs.

Responsive to feedback: 

As you know, feedback is very important for almost everything. It is therefore important that managers are also open and honest with feedback from their team. This means that you cannot choose which aspects of the input to pay attention to. And it's also a good idea not to get defensive. So encourage employees to provide feedback and practice active listening.

Increase Team Morale: 

No matter how well your team fits into the project, the fact remains that changing circumstances can affect their ability to deliver what is expected of them. To avoid burnout and loss of morale, an environment must be created that allows employees to work well. To this end, efforts should be made to get to know employees, recognize their contributions and reward their efforts whenever possible.

There are clear drawbacks when teams work remotely, such as B. inability to communicate effectively, foster interpersonal relationships, etc. However, with the right strategy, one can easily overcome this obvious problem. So, as mentioned in the tips above, focus on your team members, get to know them and their problems so they can do their best.