Manage a Remote Team For Your Digital Business

Putting together a remote team can help you grow your business exponentially while keeping costs down and providing flexible opportunities for your employees, which is why many consider remote work to be the future of successful businesses. However, it’s important to cover a few steps to ensure that the process is as easy as possible.

When you’re selling a digital product, you and your team members need to be able to communicate swiftly and efficiently with one another. You also need to make sure that the individuals you choose to represent your business are well qualified and understand the requirements of their position so there will be no confusion; this will help reduce mistakes and boost productivity, giving you more time to focus on your goals.

Take a look around ThePinkInk® to get some inspiration from a creative digital seller, and consider using these strategies to help you build the best possible team.

Get protection with an LLC

Starting your own business means you’re taking on quite a few challenges, not the least of which is ensuring that your personal liability is not involved in the equation should a lawsuit or other legal issue arise. Forming a limited liability company is an easy way to protect your business and assets as well as ensure flexibility for daily operations. Not only that, an LLC provides tax benefits that will help you save money. You can also reduce the cost of filing by utilizing a formation service, but because every state has its own regulations, you’ll need to read up on the rules in your area and get familiar with the steps before you start an LLC.

Write out a plan for your needs

Once your business is protected by the right structure, it’s a good idea to write out a plan for your specific needs where employees are concerned. Figure out what their roles will be and write out job descriptions; consider whether they’ll need special equipment to be successful as they work from home. The types of jobs that might be ideal for remote team members include designers, IT managers, sales representatives, social media managers, and marketing creatives.

This is also a good time to figure out how you’ll manage their compensation, especially if some of your team members live in other countries, since this will affect your payroll. In some instances, it may be easier for both you and the individual if you take them on as a freelancer rather than as a full-time remote employee.

Prepare for the hiring process

Once you have a good idea of what your needs are, you can start looking on job boards and social media for the best candidates. The ideal remote employees are individuals who can work independently, who value good communication, and who have a dedicated work setup at home that allows them to stay focused during their shift.

Think about the types of questions you might ask during an interview in order to gain more insight into their work habits, such as whether they’ve ever worked remotely before, how they’ll stay motivated and engaged when they don’t have in-person contact with coworkers, and what kind of schedule they might create for themselves in order to stay productive.

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Find the right communication tools

Acquiring the best employees for your needs is obviously a majorly important task, but communication is also right up there. Being able to share essential documents, work on projects together, and set up video chat meetings is essential when you’re managing a remote team, so look for the best communication tools online and weigh the pros and cons of each. Some are more cost-effective than others, while certain options come with a lot of features you’ll never use. You also want tools that are easy to figure out and navigate, as they’ll make it much easier for you and your team to jump right in without spending a lot of time on training.

Be a stellar listener

Your own communication skills as a team leader are essential in keeping your team engaged, happy, and productive, so it’s important to continually work on them and learn to be a good listener. Find out what your employees need to perform well, from health care incentives to one-on-one meetings or strategy sessions with you. Listening and then acting will help your team members feel valued, which will in turn ensure that they’re working up to their potential. You can also promote social interaction between your employees by offering team-building exercises, team chats, and breaks that allow for non-work talk.

Remain flexible

Good communication skills also come into play where remaining flexible is concerned. Not only is this a major factor for most individuals who choose remote work, it’s important that you understand as a manager that some employees who live in other countries need the ability to set their own hours. Sometimes, other cultures have very different approaches to the workday, so the more you can do to give your employees freedom, the easier it will be to hold onto their talents. This will allow you to build a positive work culture for your entire team.

Set and respect boundaries

Along those same lines, it’s crucial to set a few boundaries as a remote manager as well as respect those your employees have created. Working from home can be challenging because it can create the feeling that work is never done; for those with children or other family obligations, it’s often difficult to set limits on a workday. Help your team members do so by outlining clear expectations and giving them the opportunity to turn off their phone and computer after a certain hour. By prioritizing the outcome of their work rather than focusing on the hourly productivity, you can relieve stress for the both of you.

Managing a remote team is made much easier with a good plan. This, along with ensuring protection by starting an LLC, will help you find success and grow your business.

Have a question or comment about the creative minds behind ThePinkInk®? Get in touch today.

Blog is written by a guest blogger:

Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.