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Running a team of workers based in multiple locations can be challenging and raises potential issues that you would not experience if your staff is all based in the same building. One of the most significant issues to overcome is the physical distance, but there is also the additional issue of varying time zones to contend with. As a manager, you will want your team to work as efficiently and productively to ensure that operating costs are kept under control and that your work deadlines are always met. However, this is no simple task and requires a measured approach to achieve.
Here are some key points to consider to ensure that your team operates effectively despite the challenges represented by distance:
Regular Training
To perform their role well, each staff member needs to fully understand their role and how they can meet the required standards. This is even more essential when employees work at various locations, as they are likely to have greater autonomy over their workload and fewer colleagues around to ask for guidance.
When your teams are based in multiple locations, you may not initially notice that tasks are not being performed to the required standard. It may take a significant mistake or oversight to draw the errors to your attention.
With regular training and continuing professional development, your employees will be equipped with all the knowledge they need to perform their roles confidently. Booking in regular staff training sessions is also an excellent way to ensure that your team is up-to-date with all the latest skills and knowledge.
Collaborative Working
Collaborative working across a variety of locations was, in the past, a bit of a nightmare. Completing even the most basic tasks with colleagues in a different area was often a time-consuming, frustrating process. Issues with documents being locked by other users, waiting around for email responses, and unproductive, but excessively long conference calls were common issues. Thankfully, these disruptions have mainly been relegated to the past, and collaborative working can be an almost seamless process regardless of where you are in the world.
Cloud computing has played a significant role in the improvement of collaborative working. Thanks to the ability to work in real-time, teams can work collaboratively at any moment, each contributing to the same document, suggesting revisions, and uploading accompanying information. There are now many different collaborative working programs available to choose from, so you should be able to find the perfect option to match the needs of your business relatively easily. Once in place, you should be able to quickly see the results of switching as productivity levels rise, and efficiency begins to improve.
Easily Accessible Information
Having the latest information readily available and tailored to the right level of detail is essential for making business-critical decisions. It may seem obvious that to make a fully-informed decision, you need all the relevant information, but often, this doesn’t happen. Decisions are made without all the facts as crucial information is overlooked or simply not available. If your business is to operate efficiently and to perform strongly against its competitors’ decisions need to be made carefully and should be based on a complete and accurate set of data.
Gathering all this information into one place when your team is spread out into a range of locations and across time zones may seem like an impossible task, but it is possible with the right software. Using the right software solution for your industry, such as https://www.petrobase.io/pro/, which is designed for oil and gas operators, is essential. The software will enable you to have all your information stored in one place and will help you to monitor efficiency by comparing financials, production, and operational data.
With all the information readily available to you, there will be no more waiting around for data to be communicated from staff in different locations. Instead, you will be able to make fully informed decisions with ease, ultimately saving you both time and money in the process.
Staying Connected
The value of face to face communication should never be underestimated, but when your team works remotely in the field, you probably don’t often have the opportunity to speak with them in person very often. However, it is still vital to make an effort to stay connected with them and check in with them regularly.
Working in the field can leave employees feeling isolated and disconnected from the rest of the team. Feeling disconnected may directly affect the work performance and productivity of your team members. Every employee wants to feel appreciated and as though their work matters. Otherwise, it is all too easy for motivation levels to drop and for employees to become disillusioned and disengaged from the rest of the team. Scheduling a regular phone call where your employee can chat with you one on one will enable them to raise any concerns or issues and for you to provide meaningful feedback.
Keeping in touch with your team, no matter where they are located, is something that you should do on a regular basis.
