Remote work has pros and cons, but remote teamwork can be complicated. Let's see how to make it work and what tools can help us the most. Having a
eTítulo makes job hunting much easier, and when it comes to choosing between different options, remote work is a highly desirable work goal for many people. However, it is important to note that coordinating teams can pose challenges. Let's take a look at some tips and tools that can be useful.
Effective planning: our best strategy
Planning is the cornerstone of success in remote work, especially when coordinating with a team of people. The use of certain management tools will make it possible to effectively coordinate different team members. There are several tools like Trello or Asana (
here are a few more alternatives) that can be used to assign tasks and keep track of them.
Advantages of using management tools in remote work
These tools are the backbone of any good planning strategy for remote teams because they allow us to clearly assign tasks and define the responsibilities of each team member, as well as the available deadlines. They also provide tracking functions to monitor the progress of each task and identify potential obstacles before they become problems. In these management tools, deadlines and priorities for each task can be set so that everyone knows what needs to be prioritized even when working remotely. The project boards in these tools are very intuitive and offer the possibility to organize tasks by columns, assign colors, and quickly see what has already been completed or what still needs to be done.
Communication is vital
It may seem obvious, but when groups of people accustomed to remote work come together, communication can sometimes fail because each person focuses on their own tasks and does not consult with others. To avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary delays, an additional advantage of these platforms is the integration of communication functions. Both Asana and Trello facilitate discussing specific details of tasks without losing sight of the overall project. In addition, platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams allow us to have organized conversations. In these channels, we can create specific threads for each project, ensuring that discussions are relevant and focused.
Periodic video conferences: the human touch of remote work
Although instant messaging platforms are essential, we must not forget the importance of visual contact. When working remotely as a team, it is highly recommended to hold video conferences periodically, for which we can use the built-in functions in Slack or Microsoft Teams. Seeing each other's faces helps strengthen bonds within the team. Another advantage of face-to-face meetings is avoiding information overload on the boards. If we solve a specific set of issues in these meetings, we will avoid flooding the channels with unnecessary details and focus on essential information for each task. To make the most of these meetings, it is important to establish topics and objectives in advance. This ensures that the discussion will focus on relevant issues and that time will be used efficiently. Sharing the agenda in advance is also very positive for the cohesion of the remote work group as it encourages active participation from all members during meetings. To do this, certain roles, such as moderator or note-taker, can be rotated in each meeting. This not only distributes responsibilities fairly but also promotes participation and collaboration among all team members.
Integration of deadlines and priorities
As we mentioned before, management tools allow us to integrate the deadlines and priorities of each task, but there is a human factor that is important to personally care for and discuss in face-to-face meetings with the rest of the remote work team. This factor is setting realistic and respectful deadlines that take into account the private life and mental health of workers. This involves carefully analyzing the complexity of the task, its real importance, the available resources, and the interdependencies with other activities. Realistic deadlines allow us to avoid unnecessary stress and ensure the quality of the work performed. A happy worker is a more effective worker, and often when we talk about remote work, we forget that working hours should not be extended, that breaks should be taken during the day, and that the difficulty or responsibility of tasks should be associated with the position and salary.
