One day it was business as usual. The next, we were scrambling to <\/span>set up our home offices<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n COVID-19 meant even the largest companies had to figure out remote work. And they had to adjust fast, not only to stay afloat and maintain business continuity, but also to establish a \u201cnew normal\u201d that made them more responsive to change.<\/span><\/p>\n Aside from adapting their networks to accommodate a distributed workforce, most companies were left to contemplate one crucial component: best practices for managing a remote team.<\/span><\/p>\n We sat down with ZPE Co-Founder and VP of Engineering, Livio Ceci. Livio has more than 15 years of experience managing teams spread across the globe, and he\u2019s offered some important advice you can use right now.<\/span><\/p>\n Because of COVID-19, every business interaction we have is through the computer screen. It might seem easy to become somewhat detached from your teams, but maintaining emotional intelligence is more important than ever with a remote workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n Apart from adjusting to any new cultural or language barriers you\u2019re faced with, remember to help employees achieve a healthy work\/life balance. Especially now, things are a little heavy on the life side, but your staff members want to continue to contribute and provide value to your company. Show employees that you sympathize with them, and in return, they\u2019ll prove their commitment to you.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few things to keep in mind:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re new to working remotely, you\u2019re probably well aware of the differences between the office and your home environment. There can be a ton of distractions at home, from the TV, to family, to chores, and it might be difficult for you to be productive. Before you can manage your distributed teams, you need to be able to focus, which means taking care of these work-from-home basics:<\/span><\/p>\n Going off the previous point, using the right tools is essential to managing a remote team. Not only do you need the right hardware and software, but you also need everyone to be on the same page for efficient, productive work. Communication and collaboration are key to business continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many communication platforms available, and you\u2019ll likely use a combination of tools because each has its own strengths. You\u2019ll have different needs depending on your organization, but your ability to perform relies heavily on how you stay in touch with your teams every day. Instant messaging tools such as Slack can help you stay organized and chat with the right people, while video conferencing platforms like Zoom allow you to have meetings and conference calls.<\/span><\/p>\n In the office, you may have used a physical board to collaborate and track productivity. Now that you\u2019re doing it all in a virtual environment, consider using tools like Jira or Asana to keep tabs on work. These allow you to easily manage tasks, set priorities, and delegate responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Sharing tools are also invaluable to working remotely. These include file sharing platforms like SharePoint and knowledge base programs like Confluence, which allow you to easily collaborate on files and documents. And if software development is a large part of your organization, you\u2019re probably already aware of the benefits that something like GitHub brings to the table. In a remote work environment, it\u2019s now more crucial than ever and provides the version control hosting you need.<\/span><\/p>\n Pro tip: Keep your company\u2019s info secure<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Having the right tools in place helps you stay productive. But you also need to make sure your company\u2019s info stays safe.<\/span><\/p>\n At ZPE, one of the ways we securely access our data and infrastructure is by using ZPE Cloud. Existing customers are eligible to <\/span>get a free 3-month trial<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n From everyday meetings, to task-specific goals, being able to focus greatly improves your ability to manage. But when you\u2019re in charge of steering the ship while your crew is spread across the globe, it\u2019s challenging. You might struggle to assign priorities, and deliverables might be vastly different than what you expected. Complicating things even more is the anxiety that can come with not being able to check in on what everyone is doing. You might feel like you\u2019re not in control.<\/span><\/p>\n All you need to do is adjust your thinking. Just because you\u2019re no longer in the office and can\u2019t see the work getting done in front of you, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not getting done. So, focus on the goals \u2014 not the activity.<\/span><\/p>\n When you consider everything that goes into working remotely \u2014 from time zone differences, to technical issues or sudden emergencies \u2014 it\u2019s not effective to keep wondering, \u201cIs Tabitha working right now on the latest feature we discussed?\u201d Not only does it distract you from your own tasks, but it can lead you toward micro-managing, which<\/span> lowers trust and morale<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, focusing on the goals and outcomes allows you to exercise the trust that you and your teams have established.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some tips from Livio to help you and others focus on your goals:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pro tip: Set priorities straight<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n When considering expectations and task priorities for remote teams, ask, \u201cHow does this contribute to the end goal?\u201d This helps you break down each piece of work into smaller chunks, so that you can delegate appropriately.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you know what\u2019s driving timelines? Answer: your commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether your projects are short-term, long-term, or both, your commitment to them is what will keep you and your teams on track to reach your goals. When it comes to software development projects, Livio shares a few best practices:<\/span><\/p>\n Pro tip: What about the unexpected?<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Over the years, Livio has found that the unexpected is the biggest disruptor to even the most meticulous plans. Whether it\u2019s a critical bug or an urgent, last-minute request from the client, unforeseen hurdles always complicate the development process. To combat this, Livio suggests building in extra time from the beginning. This helps you adjust to abrupt changes or issues without having to alter more (or all) of your plans.<\/span><\/p>\n No matter how permanent our new normal may be, you can make the most of managing a remote team. If it\u2019s a pandemic, natural disaster, or human error that threatens continuity, take this advice to keep business running even with a distributed workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve got one goal: to help you transform your business\u2019 network into a value center. <\/span>Sign up for news and updates<\/span><\/a> for more free tips and advice about out-of-band<\/a>, SASE<\/a>, SD-everything, and more!<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It Happened Overnight. One day it was business as usual. The next, we were scrambling to set up our home offices. COVID-19 meant even the largest companies had to figure out remote work. And they had to adjust fast, not only to stay afloat and maintain business continuity, but also to establish a \u201cnew normal\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9702,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Managing a Remote Team<\/span>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Livio.png\")
<\/p>\nStay Human<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n
\nCover the Basics<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n
\nUse the Right Tools<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n\n
\nFocus on Goals<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\nStay Committed<\/b><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\nThere\u2019s More to Come<\/b><\/h4>\n
It Happened Overnight.<\/strong><\/h4>\nOne day it was business as usual. The next, we were scrambling to <\/span>set up our home offices<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\n\nCOVID-19 meant even the largest companies had to figure out remote work. And they had to adjust fast, not only to stay afloat and maintain business continuity, but also to establish a \u201cnew normal\u201d that made them more responsive to change.<\/span>\n\nAside from adapting their networks to accommodate a distributed workforce, most companies were left to contemplate one crucial component: best practices for managing a remote team.<\/span>\n\nWe sat down with ZPE Co-Founder and VP of Engineering, Livio Ceci. Livio has more than 15 years of experience managing teams spread across the globe, and he\u2019s offered some important advice you can use right now.<\/span>\n\n
\nStay Human<\/b><\/h4>\nBecause of COVID-19, every business interaction we have is through the computer screen. It might seem easy to become somewhat detached from your teams, but maintaining emotional intelligence is more important than ever with a remote workforce.<\/span>\n\nApart from adjusting to any new cultural or language barriers you\u2019re faced with, remember to help employees achieve a healthy work\/life balance. Especially now, things are a little heavy on the life side, but your staff members want to continue to contribute and provide value to your company. Show employees that you sympathize with them, and in return, they\u2019ll prove their commitment to you.<\/span>\n\nHere are a few things to keep in mind:<\/strong>\n
\n \t
\n\nCover the Basics<\/b><\/h4>\nIf you\u2019re new to working remotely, you\u2019re probably well aware of the differences between the office and your home environment. There can be a ton of distractions at home, from the TV, to family, to chores, and it might be difficult for you to be productive. Before you can manage your distributed teams, you need to be able to focus, which means taking care of these work-from-home basics:<\/span>\n
\n \t
\n\nUse the Right Tools<\/b><\/h4>\nGoing off the previous point, using the right tools is essential to managing a remote team. Not only do you need the right hardware and software, but you also need everyone to be on the same page for efficient, productive work. Communication and collaboration are key to business continuity.<\/span>\n\nThere are many communication platforms available, and you\u2019ll likely use a combination of tools because each has its own strengths. You\u2019ll have different needs depending on your organization, but your ability to perform relies heavily on how you stay in touch with your teams every day. Instant messaging tools such as Slack can help you stay organized and chat with the right people, while video conferencing platforms like Zoom allow you to have meetings and conference calls.<\/span>\n\nIn the office, you may have used a physical board to collaborate and track productivity. Now that you\u2019re doing it all in a virtual environment, consider using tools like Jira or Asana to keep tabs on work. These allow you to easily manage tasks, set priorities, and delegate responsibilities.<\/span>\n\nSharing tools are also invaluable to working remotely. These include file sharing platforms like SharePoint and knowledge base programs like Confluence, which allow you to easily collaborate on files and documents. And if software development is a large part of your organization, you\u2019re probably already aware of the benefits that something like GitHub brings to the table. In a remote work environment, it\u2019s now more crucial than ever and provides the version control hosting you need.<\/span>\n\n
\n\nPro tip: Keep your company\u2019s info secure<\/i><\/strong>\n\nHaving the right tools in place helps you stay productive. But you also need to make sure your company\u2019s info stays safe.<\/span>\n\n \t
\n\nFocus on Goals<\/b><\/h4>\nFrom everyday meetings, to task-specific goals, being able to focus greatly improves your ability to manage. But when you\u2019re in charge of steering the ship while your crew is spread across the globe, it\u2019s challenging. You might struggle to assign priorities, and deliverables might be vastly different than what you expected. Complicating things even more is the anxiety that can come with not being able to check in on what everyone is doing. You might feel like you\u2019re not in control.<\/span>\n\nAll you need to do is adjust your thinking. Just because you\u2019re no longer in the office and can\u2019t see the work getting done in front of you, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not getting done. So, focus on the goals \u2014 not the activity.<\/span>\n\nWhen you consider everything that goes into working remotely \u2014 from time zone differences, to technical issues or sudden emergencies \u2014 it\u2019s not effective to keep wondering, \u201cIs Tabitha working right now on the latest feature we discussed?\u201d Not only does it distract you from your own tasks, but it can lead you toward micro-managing, which<\/span> lowers trust and morale<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\n\nInstead, focusing on the goals and outcomes allows you to exercise the trust that you and your teams have established.<\/span>\n\nHere are some tips from Livio to help you and others focus on your goals:<\/strong>\n
\n \t
\n\nPro tip: Set priorities straight<\/i><\/strong>\n\nWhen considering expectations and task priorities for remote teams, ask, \u201cHow does this contribute to the end goal?\u201d This helps you break down each piece of work into smaller chunks, so that you can delegate appropriately.<\/span>\n\n
\n\nStay Committed<\/b><\/h4>\nDo you know what\u2019s driving timelines? Answer: your commitment.<\/span>\n\nWhether your projects are short-term, long-term, or both, your commitment to them is what will keep you and your teams on track to reach your goals. When it comes to software development projects, Livio shares a few best practices:<\/span>\n
\n \t
\n\nPro tip: What about the unexpected?<\/i><\/strong>\n\nOver the years, Livio has found that the unexpected is the biggest disruptor to even the most meticulous plans. Whether it\u2019s a critical bug or an urgent, last-minute request from the client, unforeseen hurdles always complicate the development process. To combat this, Livio suggests building in extra time from the beginning. This helps you adjust to abrupt changes or issues without having to alter more (or all) of your plans.<\/span>\n\n
\n\nNo matter how permanent our new normal may be, you can make the most of managing a remote team. If it\u2019s a pandemic, natural disaster, or human error that threatens continuity, take this advice to keep business running even with a distributed workforce.<\/span>\nThere\u2019s More to Come<\/b><\/h4>\nWe\u2019ve got one goal: to help you transform your business\u2019 network into a value center. <\/span>Sign up for news and updates<\/span><\/a> for more free tips and advice about out-of-band<\/a>, SASE<\/a>, SD-everything, and more!<\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,97],"tags":[36,37,38,55,125],"class_list":["post-9672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-datacenter-management","category-user-management","tag-oob","tag-oobm","tag-out-of-band","tag-remote-team-management","tag-user-management"],"yoast_head":"\n