The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world. Organizations worldwide were quick to respond proactively. Allaying fears of remote working, organizations jumped into action as they got most of their staff working remotely from home. A Gartner poll showed that 90% of HR leaders said employees would be allowed to work remotely even once the COVID-19 vaccines were widely available. Staff welcomed the move as it gave them more of a work-life balance. But what about managing projects remotely? Project management combined with remote teams sounds like a huge task, but innovative cloud-based project management solutions are available.
Read on: Remote work-a new way forward
Can project managers handle remote work?
Remote working has become popular with organizations over the past year. Hiring talent has become easier as there’s no location constraints and organizations save on infrastructure costs. No one will know this better than a confused project manager looking at the daunting tasks of managing remote teams.
Project management during a pandemic is all about managing people remotely and keeping the project on track. A successful project manager must understand distant work challenges, the best ways to manage remote teams, and identify suitable project management software to overcome these challenges. Ultimately, the success of the project with on-site or remote team’s rests on the project managers shoulders.
Read on: Improve your project management skills for success
What are remote project teams?
Team members working on a single project from different physical locations qualify as a remote team. A typical project manager may handle single or multiple projects. In that case, they have multiple remote project teams to supervise. As per surveys, over 87% of remote employees experience less stress and are more productive.
Types of remote teams
Due to globalization and remote teams working in various time zones, multiple remote working models evolved:
- Fully remote: All team members work remotely. Staff might work from separate physical offices or homes.
- Hybrid teams: Few team members work from a centralized office location, while others work remotely.
- Flex teams: Team members are co-located for some time and have the flexibility to work both remotely and from a co-located office space.
Advantages of working with a remote project team
Remote working has many advantages, unlike many preconceived notions. Some of the main benefits include:
Increased productivity
With a better work-life balance, 44% of staff says they were able to get more work done compared to working in an office. Flexibility in operating increases productivity.
Reduced attrition
Remote working has become a perk these days with employees preferring organizations providing flexible working options.
Reduced stress
The ability to spend time with family and friends by working from home reduces stress levels.
Enrolling top talent
Remote working opens talent recruitment from broader geographies.
Increased savings
Office space is expensive and remote teams can help reduce costs. Overhead costs are reduced further by using other Software as a Service (SaaS) tools. You can explore popular project management tools like Vault, video conferencing tools like Zoom and online cloud drives and applications such as G Suite from Google.
Challenges faced in remote project management
Remote working has provided a few positives over the last year. However, there are challenges abound, especially for project managers who need to view the project and its various KPIs comprehensively. Some of the challenges include:
- Lack of up-to-date project information in one place
- Assigning tasks and tracking them
- Streamlining business processes
- Communication challenges
- Information availability across team members
- Lack of accountability
Tips for managing remote project teams
Some valuable tips for managing remote project teams include:
Encourage communication
Project managers should have two-way communication with employees. Open communication channels help in improving trust while working remotely.
Trust your employees
Distant working may require flexibility in setting boundaries for personal and work hours. Team members may be functioning in different time zones too, meaning all of them may not always be available. Project managers should set up schedules and task deadlines in advance so that remote team members have a clear overview. Project managers must avoid micromanagement and focus on completing tasks by their due dates.
Set clear goals and expectations
Clear communication entails project managers setting project objectives, goals, and expectations. Documentation of project information with plans and individual responsibilities helps effectively manage remote teams.
Invest in a feature rich and efficient remote project management tool
You can achieve success in remote project management only if you have the correct remote project management software. The application should house information centrally and be accessible to all team members.
The appropriate remote project management software that you choose should be able to assist you in the following:
How Vault helps you manage remote teams
Vault for project management is a cloud-based application and is accessible virtually. You can manage your projects efficiently from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Share and track project activities seamlessly with your team members and stakeholders.
Real-time data, with project-wide comprehensive views and critical project indicators, alerts, and Gantt chart views all make for easier collaboration.
Start using Vault for virtual project management. Contact us for more information.
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