There is a big difference in the experience between working in-office and working remotely. As team managers, we ought to be able to know these differences and learn how we can better support our team members. First time managing a remote team or virtual assistant?

Here are the common management mistakes for remote teams and Virtual Assistants you should avoid:

The “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” Mentality

Let’s all admit it. It’s easy to forget people you don’t interact with face-to-face daily.

However, it is still very much avoidable. Please do this by setting a regular schedule to meet or interact with them, even when there’s no work to discuss.

This will give your remote team members a personal connection with you and help build trust.

Micromanaging

And while communication is important in managing your remote team or Virtual Assistant, you should still know where to draw the line in terms of the number of times you communicate with them within the day.

Let go of your anxiety about work that isn’t getting done, even when they are.

Like anyone else, our remote employees also need space and time to work and having someone bugging them all the time is not helpful. 

Non-Utilization of Available Tools

If you’ve ever been in a meeting where you thought it could’ve been just emailing, you know what we mean by this. It would be best if you did not rely too much or too little on the available tools. For essential presentations, video call services such as Skype or Zoom are the best option. However, an email or instant message could do for updates or simple communication.

Inobservance of Time Zones

One of the few things that tend to get overlooked is time zones. Ensure you are mindful of your remote team members’ time zone before sending that meeting invitation or initiating a call about work past office hours. Your 7 am may not be 7 am where they are; it could be the middle of the night.

This is quite a challenge, especially when setting up meetings for VAs or remote team members dispersed around the globe. You can overcome this problem by finding a time when everyone is online at the same time and agreeing to schedule meetings at that time.

Not Practicing What You Preach

As a team manager, you are to set a standard of employee quality and be a role model. It’s important to practice listening to your team members whenever you communicate about work. Ask yourself before suggesting, “Do I practice this?” or “Is this how I would do it, and is it the only way?” This prevents miscommunication and improves relationships and trust in the team.

There will always be challenges in managing people, but learning from these challenges and always aiming to do better is essential. This will make you an efficient leader, creating a more effective, organized team.

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