{"id":30638,"date":"2022-01-20T18:41:15","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T18:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.customerservicemanager.com\/?p=30638"},"modified":"2022-01-20T18:41:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T18:41:15","slug":"finding-the-seven-best-ways-to-work-with-your-remote-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.customerservicemanager.com\/finding-the-seven-best-ways-to-work-with-your-remote-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the Seven Best Ways to Work With Your Remote Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Remote\n

These days, we\u2019re all exploring ways to support team collaboration. Whether your customer service team is working 100% in different locations, or exploring a hybrid arrangement, you\u2019re seeking ways to make it easier to share ideas, brainstorm, and communicate effectively.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the business world continues to evolve new ways of bringing teams closer together, from wherever individuals are located, you may be wondering about the best ways to support creative workflow. Here are seven tips to get started and light the fire of peak performance.<\/p>\n

Chat Without Scheduling<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all love talking ideas through with peers. But when you\u2019re working in different locations, things get to be much more formal. If you\u2019re fed up with scheduling meetings, get together informally. Chat with your mates and keep the creative juices flowing.<\/p>\n

Check-In Frequently<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t you just love to bump into a friend in the hallway or brainstorm over coffee? Find ways to check in informally and frequently. Make this a top priority and you\u2019ll notice a huge difference in productivity and efficiency.<\/p>\n

Connect As a Human Being<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may seem odd, but we often get into behaving as if we\u2019re on autopilot. We discuss quarterly profits, sales goals, and alignment to strategies. But, when you\u2019re working remotely, it\u2019s essential to connect as a human being. Make connections and caring<\/a> your main focus\u2014for clients, and your internal team.<\/p>\n

Experts in mental health and remote teams suggest making a specific time for personal check-in. In addition to making time for this, also make room to be available on an emotional level. By committing to connecting as a human being, you can build rapport and grow trust with your teammates.<\/p>\n

Walk and Talk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you have a quick question or want to share a rough idea? Find a way to walk over to your teammate for an impromptu in-person interaction<\/a>. It\u2019s a lot faster \u2013 ten times faster, in fact \u2013 than sending a zoom link.<\/p>\n

Use Circle Standups<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stand-up meetings are great because they are inclusive and short. Stand in a circle so it\u2019s clear who has the floor. Pull up your favorite apps like Trello or Notion. Share your ideas, take notes, and boost productivity all at once.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something so powerful about standing in a circle. It communicates connection, equality, and being in touch. A circle is so much more inclusive and interwoven than meeting at a square conference table or trying to be productive one person at a time.<\/p>\n

Engage Your Team<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re the team leader or a team member, take the initiative to engage with each other. Share ideas on what would help individuals and subgroups be exceptionally productive.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a leader, you may feel challenged with all the changes in the workplace, workflow, and team interactions. This is something many leaders have been discussing across industries and countries.<\/p>\n

Experts in virtual productivity recommend sharing the challenge with your team. Let people know that you\u2019re open to ideas, input, and suggestions. Be willing to experiment with meetings at different times and for different purposes. Some of the experiments will hit the target more than others.<\/p>\n

As you use an iterative approach, you\u2019ll gradually develop a library of practices that work for your team. With this in hand, you can build more ways to engage and invent.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a team member, you may feel isolated, adrift, and not as productive as you felt in an office setting. The interesting thing is that if you\u2019re feeling this way, it\u2019s likely that so are your teammates. Do a quick poll of your peers. Find out if other people are experiencing the same feelings.<\/p>\n

Ask for suggestions and begin to shine some light on the issues. Some of your mates may have found cool ways to stay charged, creative, and productive. By taking the risk to investigate, you can improve workflow for yourself and your entire team.<\/p>\n

Support Each Other<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not every conversation, meeting, and project planning session will be the same. That’s why it\u2019s so helpful to support your teammates along the way. Experiment with interactions in different media to engage your peers.<\/p>\n

For instance:<\/p>\n