6 Tips for Managing Global & International Teams in 2023

‘Distributed teams’ refer to teams where members are physically away from each other while working. There is no limit to distance as they could be working even from different time zones! This means the best developer based in Delhi can connect with the best Marketer located in Paris. Distributed teams allow for superior flexibility in the way teams function which leads to a myriad of benefits.

Thanks to technology, we can connect right away. Whether our staff is located in the same city or in various time zones, video conferencing and group messaging solutions keep us in continual communication. Distributed work has never been easier. There are many challenges to working with and managing global teams. However, the advantages of a global workforce are just as prevalent.

Advantages of globally distributed teams

There is more to globally distributed workforces than just revenue and retention. From savings to productivity to culture, global teams cover everything your organization needs and more.

The workplace is evolving due to remote work. With the help of technology, team members from all over the world can connect and work together while contributing their own special ideas, insights, and experiences. Let’s look at a few benefits of forming a worldwide team.

Access to a massive talent pool

A massive 80% of tech leaders feel that the availability of skilled talent is the biggest challenge in recruitment. Hiring across a global pool of talent enables organizations to access highly skilled talent at extremely competitive costs. Superior talent can be up to 8X as efficient as typical workers. Organizations can access and hire the top workers on the market, wherever they may be, by thinking beyond location-dependent teams.

Cost-effectiveness

The annual cost of office space per employee is, on average, $18,000. An organization’s main office footprint can be significantly reduced using a globally distributed staff. Cost factors for businesses include overhead expenses for things like office space, internet, power, water, and more. Decentralization and lower IT expenses are also made possible when businesses move applications off-site to the cloud. Managing

Increased productivity

Remote employees reported that working from home enhanced productivity by 77%. Businesses can save money on various resources and boost productivity by giving employees access to the tools and technologies that enable distributed working. Motivated workers can complete more work in less time, in addition to being more disciplined.

Boost employee retention

Additionally, remote workers are 83% happier in their employment than on-site employees are, and they would accept a wage drop of up to 10% to work remotely. Most individuals can agree that greater pay paired with better work-life balance, professional advancement prospects, and lower conflict chances boost the likelihood of sticking with a company over the long term.

Challenges to nanaging a global workforce (& how to solve them)

Each organization has its share of global workforce challenges. However, issues and challenges of managing a global workforce have easy and direct solutions. Let’s see.

Managing communication issues

A distributed team has to communicate with a deliberate purpose. Clear regulations that specify the appropriate cadence and optimal mediums for various forms of communication are beneficial. Set clear expectations with respect to working hours and availability, and factor in the differences in time zone when setting up team meetings. Make use of multiple channels of communication, synchronous and asynchronous to ensure that all members of your team have the space to plan out their workdays. Employees want the freedom of managing their work at their own pace.

Keep in mind that working remotely often gets lonely. When there are no proper conversation channels, employees become less friendly and trusting of each other. This leads to disruption of workflow dynamics and even conflicts and arguments. Set up multiple, two-way channels of communication across all stages to ensure that your team members have the means to communicate and share their ideas. By making sure that each employee feels respected, heard, and supported, you can boost engagement.

Tracking performance

Lack of face-to-face interaction may have a detrimental effect on morale and productivity. Moreover, when not working in visual contact, it can be hard to manage just what and how well an employee is doing. Managers must refrain from constantly bombarding their team members for updates and indulging in micromanagement.

A simple solution is checking in regularly and using productivity-centric tools. Task managers like Jira can track tasks as they are finished with Jira and include them in performance results. These tools provide a “quick peek” at current progress and assist you in compiling all of your significant outcomes in one location.

Cultural barriers

Company culture must be intentionally strengthened when it comes to distributed teams. It’s crucial to provide opportunities for interactions that are unrelated to business. It enables employees to get to know one another better, fostering closer bonds and a more cohesive team. In assessing employment possibilities, 57% of job searchers across all professional levels consider culture as essential as salary.

To build and reinforce business culture, managers and leadership must schedule regular, non-work-related events with the aim of team building and recreation. This could include relaxing sessions, meet-and-greets, gaming sessions, or even just talking for fun while having tea in the evening.

Differences in time zones

Another challenge when managing global teams is integrating time zones. Since a globally distributed team is always working at different times, it is important to have a proper structure in place with well-defined guidelines for communication.

Care must be taken to set up team meetings at times that are universally convenient, and managers must ensure proper documentation so that members who miss the meeting might still have access to the discussion. Managing this isn’t too complicated if your team is aware of the overlap they have.

A combination of flexible working hours, dexterous planning, and asynchronous communication can solve a major chunk of time-zone-related issues.

Lack of transparency

There are many possibilities for interaction between coworkers in the office. These seemingly little moments of connection help to improve team dynamics, foster a sense of community and spark cooperation among groups and group members.

A team that works well and performs well is a production machine. Teams should be provided with well-defined briefings that point them in the direction of a certain goal. Make sure you include detailed milestones and timelines so that your team has a clear idea of what is expected from them. This will stop low-quality production as well as burnout brought on by extended hours of effort.

Building trust

Working remotely generally results in less amount of in-person interaction time. People who interact offline on a daily basis are more likely to build friendships and trust. Talking to someone online every day doesn’t bring the same amount of trust and care, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Host off-site or online gatherings for socializing and team-building so that distant workers may meet up in person or through a video conference. Making time for your team to unwind and have fun alongside when they are spread out is more crucial than ever because the connection is sometimes harder to come by online.

Companies like Automattic are great at managing this. They make sure their employees unplug and unwind on their holidays to keep the mood set. The morale of your distributed workforce may be significantly affected by these social gatherings.

Conclusion

There is a huge disparity between the advantages of global teams and challenges to managing a global workforce. When contrasted. the challenges to managing a distributed workforce are but a smear on an otherwise crystal clear screen of benefits including but not limited to productivity, revenue, retention & success.

Irrespective of the issues with global workforces, teams, and companies are rapidly changing to this model. And not without reason. Globally distributed teams are the future of working. They redefine what we’ve been doing in traditional offices and are better in almost every single way. There’s no reason not to opt-in. Once the managing part is done, you’re on your way to a successful distributed team.

Take the first step towards building your distributed team with Talent500 With vetted professionals and AI-powered tools, we offer talent acquisition and management solutions like no other. To know more, book a consultation and overcome any issues you’re having with your remote workforce.