What is managing offshore teams? We at Argent Team think it all boils down to two major aspects — planning and communication — and a few peculiarities to take into account.
1. Check your perception
It all starts with perception. The right attitude defines how the project — any project — goes. It’s better to see an offshore development center as part of your company even if for the duration of a project or a set period.
It is important for remote team members to feel included in the whole process and heard as professionals they are (and we at Argent Team aim at the best ones). Their level of motivation is the direct result of the attitude towards them from the side of the company they work for. So, make sure your in-house team, especially project managers, treat the remote team as colleagues.
2. See the time zone difference as an advantage, not a hindrance
When you think of managing offshore teams, one of the first things that come to mind is the remote location and hence the time zone difference. Instead of viewing it as something of an obstacle on the road, you can use it as an addition to the hours in the day when planning.
3. Use clear definitions
4. Anticipate
5. Set up communication channels
Make sure to use the
6. Share the knowledge
7. Make sure everyone is on the same page
Managing offshore teams or working with employees you’ve known for years, making sure everyone involved in the project understands the task and the objective is key.
8. Get to know your people
Assembling the list of candidates for a company, Argent Team considers the company’s culture and anticipates how the candidates will fit in. It’s our job to offer the best solution for your business. As the project is on the way, we advise to make time for casual work-related chit-chats during video calls. Why?
In the office environment, people usually share their attitudes, feelings about work during coffee breaks or lunch. Full-time employees from different offices are used to meet-ups during team building activities or business trips. These little interactions add up to better communication within the company.
And what about the case of offshore team management? If you ask your remote team about their feelings about work, it may help you manage the workflow more effectively.
What was challenging over the week? What was the success of the week? Are they up for a new challenge? Is there pressure building up? Simple questions like that don’t take much time, but the answers may give you more ideas. And help you know your remote colleagues better.
9. Be open to hear
The success of the previous points rests on the premise that the remote team members feel free to share their subjective attitude to and about work. If you are open to hearing their concerns and/or ideas, it automatically leads to more trust — the very foundation of any successful collaboration.
10. Delegate
A remote team is typically run from the company’s side. But you can also get help managing offshore development teams from the vendor. Argent Team offers team management services too. Don’t hesitate to contact us to get a consultation and find out how you can build your business with Argent.team.
