Useful tips for working with a (not-fully) distributed team
Staying connected is really important for every team, but communication channels must be clear and easily accessible when you have distributed team members to ensure no one feels excluded.
Here are a few little tips and tricks that we use at Finder to help us all communicate effectively.
Try and create a team vibe
Being a distributed member of a not-fully distributed team can be lonely. Chats in the office, lunch breaks and coffee runs allow people to socialise. It’s valuable to try and create a bit of this culture online by making Slack channels where people can:
- Talk about their favourite music playlists
- Share pics of what their dog is up to
- Chat about the latest episode of Game of Thrones
As an example of this, my team at work has got into a really nice habit of saying good morning to each other in our Slack channel when they log in in the mornings, maybe posting an emoji indicating the weather where they are located or how they are feeling about the day ahead. It’s such a little thing, but it also lets everyone know that a person is online, which is helpful
Create inclusive meetings
Always try and hold meetings that use video conferencing software. At Finder, we use Zoom as our main video conferencing platform which allows team members to virtually connect with each other and see reactions and facial expressions. Body language helps us all to communicate effectively, as human beings we observe body language almost as much as listening to what people are saying.
Always try and remember the people who are dialled into your meetings. Nobody should be at a disadvantage in a meeting just because they aren’t in the same room as the rest of the team. You may need to actively make an extra effort to include these participants in the conversation to ensure they are heard. Also, try and avoid doing things like writing on meeting room walls where distributed team members can’t read it easily or pointing at things on the screen of a computer in the meeting room if the screen isn’t being shared.
Some of our teams have opted to have all members dial into their stand-up meetings so the crew who aren’t located in the office don’t feel so “remote”.
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Distributed team culture can flourish or fail purely based on communication. If you don’t get communication right then the culture is likely to suffer.
It’s important to set aside regular times for the team to catch up in person. This could be a daily stand-up meeting or regular team sprint planning and retro meetings.
Consider updating your Slack status if you’re in a meeting or out of the office. This lets distributed folks know that you may be slow or unavailable to respond to them. Also, let people know when you have to leave a Slack conversation partway through. A simple “brb” or “one sec” will often suffice and won’t seem like you’ve walked away from the conversation. It’s basic online etiquette that can make all the difference.
Distributed work isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, data points to the distributed workforce continuing to grow as more workplaces start to offer flexible working arrangements. According to research by Indeed, 68% of Australian employers say their company allows employees to work remotely.
It’s crucial that managers, leaders and other team members learn how to work with distributed teams to ensure we build strong company cultures that keep everyone happy (and productive).
