How to Improve Productivity in Your Global Team was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Managing your team’s productivity can be challenging if employees are across the globe. Everyone may be in a different time zone, and they may have unique work habits based on their culture and previous workplaces. It may also be hard to oversee their work and offer support without the right tools.t
If you are in such a situation, you may wonder how to improve productivity without overwhelming your team. Here are some practical strategies.
✔ Provide Clear Communication
The lack of clear communication is a major cause of disruption at work. If, for example, you don’t give clear instructions, employees will likely make mistakes. They will then feel frustrated since they must set aside some work to fix the error. Miscommunication can also lead to missed deadlines and conflict.
Improve productivity in your global team by communicating clearly. Before sending any email or text, read it several times to ensure it passes the right message. If you give instructions, ensure they aren’t vague so that you can limit inquiries later. Still, it’s important to let your employees know they can contact you if they have questions.
Outlining your communication expectations can make your team more productive. Have a charter explaining how employees should communicate amongst themselves and with seniors.
Should they use one channel for urgent messages, or will you provide a different one? Will they use the same platform for collaborative projects, or do they need separate software? What is the maximum duration for responding to calls and emails?
Setting clear communication expectations allows employees to support each other in their roles and ensures efficiency.
✔ Be Smart in Navigating Different Time Zones
Collaborating with people in different time zones can be tricky, especially if the job demands a lot of teamwork. All employees must stay aligned and updated so that they can meet deadlines. They may need to synchronize their schedules and prioritize some tasks.
But, if you’re strategic, you can work with people in different time zones without compromising productivity. Instead of expecting everyone to be available 24/7, use overlap hours to create a cohesive workplace.
Use such time for tasks that require everyone to be on board. For example, you can have meetings and training during this period. You may also ask your staff to work on collaborative projects during overlapping work hours.
Relying on this system may not always be practical. An employee might take the day off or quit when you need them the most. They could also fall ill or attend an urgent meeting with a client.
Avoid disruptions by using project management tools that ensure seamless operation. With such, employees can do their share of the work and make notes for the next person. They may also leave inquiries that other workers respond to when they clock in.
Another way to navigate different time zones is by being mindful when setting deadlines. Instead of telling an employee you need something by Friday, include the time zone. This way, there won’t be confusion and delay if they deliver the work at a time different from what you had in mind.
✔ Invest in Reliable Tools
Using complex collaboration tools can affect productivity in your global team. If employees have difficulty navigating the provided software, they will have a hard time doing their work. They will likely make costly mistakes that derail a project’s progress.
When choosing software for your staff, pick one that has clear navigation. Ensure that employees can easily find the tools they need without contacting support. Make sure the software loads quickly and has no bugs.
Other features to look for in software include:
- Mobile-friendliness
- Smooth operation
- High responsiveness
- Resilience against malware attacks
Your global employees might have different exposure to technology. Some may be familiar with most software solutions, while others may not be so tech-savvy.
Before choosing software, ensure it will allow your team to be productive. Invest in solutions that are easy to use and beginner-friendly. If some employees don’t have the right tech skills, offer free training or suggest a short course. Follow up with them to determine if they can handle their duties better after upskilling.
Navigating several work tools can be pretty overwhelming. Imagine responding to emails on one software, writing a report on another, and using five more tools for other projects.
Go for software solutions with multiple functionalities to help your team focus. If that isn’t entirely possible, use tools that support integration. This way, you can improve accuracy and avoid time-consuming processes like data transfer.
Software updates are not always efficient and often come with bugs. So, it’s important to check in with your staff to find out if they still like the tools they use. If they don’t, go back to the drawing board and get solutions that suit the current needs.
✔ Establish Healthy Work-Life Balance
When managing your global team, you may find yourself calling employees at odd hours. You could forget they are in a different time zone or expect them to be always available.
Being on the lookout for work emails, calls or even waking up at night to handle an urgent task is tiring. Your employees will not enjoy their free time or rest if they expect you to contact them anytime. Eventually, this can lead to burnout and low productivity.
Encourage employees to embrace healthy work-life balance by respecting their working hours. If you have some information you want to communicate, check what time it is in other areas. If possible, schedule messages so that every employee receives them at a reasonable time. You should also offer short breaks during work hours so your team can reset and recharge.
It’s common for employers to deny their workers time off if they don’t find the timing convenient. Unfortunately, this can lead to resentment and lower work morale.
Improve productivity by encouraging employees to request time off when they need a break. Allow them to take days off during cultural and national holidays.
Doing this shows that you care for their well-being and respect cultural differences. It makes them more satisfied with their job, which improves productivity in the long run.
Archive Peak Productivity
Managing a global team has some challenges, but you can still achieve peak productivity. Provide solutions that make work easier and encourage collaboration.
Further, communicate your expectations and respect everyone’s working hours. Such steps will build an efficient team, encourage collaboration, and improve engagement.
