Managing an Outsourced Team
By Lelit Barrios, Hubport Group
In this age of neoteric technology and global marketing,
distance is no longer seen as a hindrance for people from
different locations to simultaneously work together for a common
cause. An abounding number of corporations employ what may be
called dispersed teams across continents, time zones, and even
international borders. A vice president in Chicago may be
communicating with a project manager in HongKong, who delegates
tasks to a team in the Philippines.
A multitude of web- based interactive tools, which boost
corporate communication, are available to ease the burdens of
handling projects where the key components for completion are
widely spread. While this may be challenging, it is not at
improbable and certainly beneficial. You get revenue coming from
cheaper yet just as effective labor on one hand and an equal
distribution of responsibility on the other. However, like any
form of management, involvement is crucial. To achieve the full
potential of your "distant" team mates, a positive communication
pattern must be constituted, conscious effort should be taken to
establish trust. A careful and regular assessment of the
business processes is necessary to ensure that its working for
everybody concerned. Here are some tips in handling remote
teams:
1. Make it a point to visit your far- flung team and get
involved, familiarize yourself with the kind of work they are
doing for you and understand the ways in which they accomplish
their tasks.
2. Be up to date with the latest in technology and study which
tools you could use to improve effectivity and develop
leadership skills among your people.
3. Build a relationship communication by arranging your schedule
in such a way that accommodates employees from a different time
zone for accordant project updates and early detection of
possible troubles.
4. Establish a consistency in your operational processes.
Constant communication, regular quality checks, stick to a work
flow structure that is proven to be effective, expose your
employees to substantial labor enhancement activities like
employee motivation, leadership development, team building,
among others. And more importantly, get involved.
5. Get personal with your team. Remember birthdays, weddings,
anniversaries. Give a promotion when and where it is due.
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