Overcoming 6 Common Challenges of Virtual Teams

The number of remote workers has risen to an all-time high, and many are part of a virtual team. There are unique challenges for virtual teams that leaders should work to prevent. Below are 5 challenges for virtual teams and how to overcome them.

#1 Not being able to communicate with team members

Nothing is more frustrating that not being able to reach a team member in a critical moment. This is especially true when your next step depends on hearing from the other person. Make sure your team has reliable equipment and is working on the same communication software. While flexibility is a perk of remote work, be sure to communicate the working hours that all members will be available. Create a priority system, so team members that are engaged in work or meetings know the urgency of your request.

#2 Not allowing enough downtime

The opposite of the above is having remote workers that are too available. It can be hard to honor working hours when outside the confines of a physical office. However, it’s important for remote workers to maintain work-life balance and enjoy adequate downtime. It’s tempting to send one quick message, but creating boundaries will build trust in team members.

#3 Not having a virtual mailing address

Remote workers need to have a virtual business address to receive mail and packages. It’s easy to have a virtual address set up with a local virtual office for rent. Sharing virtual mailboxes amongst team members who are geographically located together, makes monitoring deliveries easy. Shipping equipment or confidential information to remote team member’s home addresses is not suggested.

#4 Not having enough face-to-face interaction

Sending emails, texts, and chats are a quick and easy way to communicate. But without face-to-face communication, the full message may not be received. About 50 percent of our message is non-verbal communication, and missing out on these cues can lead to disconnected teams. Add plenty of video communication to your regular routine through video conferencing. If possible, get the team together in person occasionally to build connections.

#5 Too many hands on the ball or dropping it

Keeping track of assignments and who is responsible for them is critical when teams are working remotely. Using locally created tools or project management software such as Basecamp or Asana can help keep everyone in the loop. Here are some other tools to try. These programs show team members the status of projects, which tasks are complete, and who is responsible. In addition to this, many have fun features to mimic “water cooler talk”.

#6 Not having access to essential resources

When you don’t see workers daily, it’s hard to know if they lack the resources needed to get the job done. Be sure your virtual team members have what they need whether that’s office supplies, software, technical equipment, or an adequate working environment. If home offices are lacking appropriate resources, remote workers may consider using a virtual office. Virtual offices give remote workers a quiet, professional environment to complete work. Another benefit is working among other professionals to help foster connection and collaboration. Team members in close proximity can meet at a virtual office to work or attend meetings together.

If you’re looking for a modern, professional facility to provide resources to your virtual team,  get in touch with us to determine how we can help.