Chapter 2: Challenges that can be faced by virtual teams and how to overcome them


Posted January 21, 2021 by shonesdaniel

The challenges that virtual teams face and different ways to overcome them

 
LACK OF REPORTING

Accountability is a difficult issue in any environment, but with virtual teams it can become a serious problem if not addressed quickly. Because there is no physical oversight for virtual teams, it becomes difficult to calculate performance and efficiency. Employers are often tormented by these questions:
Do employees really work during working hours?
Are they productive?
Do everyone on the team make the same effort?

And while these questions are common, it is important to find the real reason behind them.

Employees can also become distrustful of their team members and wonder if they are getting the short end of the stick. All this stems from a lack of trust in the team.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Although there are several solutions to this challenge for a virtual team, such as using time tracking software to detect the activity of your employees during working hours, this type of solution will only sow the seeds of mistrust.
The best way to do this is to change the way you assess employee productivity and switch KPIs to be more results-oriented. That way, it doesn't matter if your employees work eight or 12 hours, because the results will be key in this scenario.

In addition, transparent and effective communication is an absolute requirement to ensure that the whole team is on the same page and no one feels alienated or exploited.

REDUCED FOCUS
Office spaces are designed to improve focus and reduce distraction. Everything from a seat to colors is designed for a specific purpose. Therefore, it is easy to just take a seat at your desk and start working when you are in the office. However, this is not the case with remote work. Since most people in virtual teams work from home, the environment is full of distractions. Everything from noise in the neighbors' house to the children in yours can get in the way of your focus and be a challenge for virtual teams.

Reduced focus is a common challenge among virtual teams, and although remote work is known to increase productivity if the focus decreases, your employees can feel quickly burned out.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Encourage your team members to practice the following routinely and strictly:
Have a separate work area in your house
Keep the workspace free of clutter
Discuss child care with family members to make sure you get a few hours without distractions

In turn, you can offer them financial support to add remote work infrastructure to their house. And it stimulates good performance. Communicate frequently with your team to see if they are facing any issues.

OFFICE CULTURE MAINTENANCE
From the employee's point of view, virtual work can be great. Without a commute to work, flexible working hours and working from the comfort of your home are great benefits. But many remote workers feel isolated after months of working remotely. The main reason for this challenge for a virtual team is that there is no "socialization" in remote teams. Teammates don't really meet each other and miss the human connection that the office offers.

Office culture can be a great support here. Office culture is an ambiguous term, but it encompasses the entire office experience. But how do you shape an office culture without an office?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Office culture is not just about birthdays and fun Fridays. It goes beyond that, includes interpersonal interactions, sharing with colleagues, discussing your weekends, and social relationships. This can be achieved by engaging employees virtually. You can do this by supporting interagency groups, encouraging conversations, and adding rituals such as sharing stories over the weekend on Mondays. You can also reward communication. It may seem silly at first, but small rituals can be added to create community.
Read more: https://humanresources.report/blogs/8-common-challenges-faced-by-virtual-teams-and-how-to-overcome-them/8737?utm_source=Human%20Resources%20Report&utm_medium=Neethu
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Issued By Shones Daniel
Country United States
Categories Advertising , Human Resources , Marketing
Tags human resource analysis , human resource companies , human resource development , human resource management
Last Updated January 21, 2021