The COVID-19 pandemic changed the workplace culture and the future of work. With a lot of businesses forced into having their employees work from home, remote work has grown increasingly popular amongst Millennials and Gen Zs since then.
Remote work happens when employees do their job from a place other than a central office. While remote work is nice to have for some teams, managing it comes with its challenges and this blog will equip Lagos human resources personnel with best practices for managing remote teams.
Note: these best practices are not limited to remote Lagos Human resources management alone as they apply to remote teams in other locations.
Challenges of Managing Remote Teams in Lagos
Managing remote teams isn’t easy as it comes with a unique set of challenges. Here are some of the challenges that you may face managing a remote team:
- Internet Connectivity Issues:
Internet connectivity is a problem faced by a lot of people in Nigeria and it can be frustrating for team members who rely on their computers to work remotely. These connectivity issues could lead to delays in communication, missed deadlines, and a decrease in productivity.
- Power Supply Issues:
Another challenge with working from home is that electricity isn’t always reliable. If you’re a human resource personnel managing a remote team and your employees don’t have backup generators or UPS devices at home, then there could be a lot of issues as it concerns deliverables and effective communication.
- Communication Challenges:
Effective communication is critical when managing a remote team. Some team members might be unavailable for team meetings and some could even take time to respond to urgent messages.
- Managing Work-Life Balance:
When working remotely, it can be difficult to separate work from home life, resulting in burnout and decreased productivity. As a manager, it’s essential to encourage your team members to take breaks and prioritize their mental health.
Best Practices for Remote Lagos Human Resources Management
Managing a remote team requires a different approach than managing a traditional team. Here are some best practices that can help you effectively manage your remote teams:
- Set clear expectations:
It’s essential to establish clear expectations for your remote team. This includes setting clear goals, deadlines, and responsibilities. You should also establish guidelines for communication, availability, and work hours.
- Use technology to stay connected:
Technology is critical for managing a remote team and human resource personnel should be keen on technology. You should use tools like video conferencing, project management tools, and instant messaging to stay connected with your team.
- Foster a culture of trust and communication:
Trust and communication are essential for remote teams. You should create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and providing feedback. Encourage regular check-ins and team meetings to keep everyone on the same page.
- Provide Adequate Training and Support:
Training and support are critical for remote teams. You should provide your team with the necessary resources, tools, and training to do their jobs effectively. Encourage them to ask questions and provide feedback, and be available to provide support and guidance as needed.
Tools for Managing Remote Teams in Lagos
Let’s dive into each of these categories of tools for managing remote teams:
Project Management Tools:
Project management tools are essential for managing remote teams. They help to keep track of all the projects and ensure that they are progressing as expected. The following are some of the most popular project management tools:
- Trello:
A simple, flexible tool for organizing your projects and tasks. It has a free version and a paid version starting from $5 per month. It’s easy to use and has an intuitive interface that makes it accessible even for people who aren’t familiar with project management software.
- Asana:
Asana is another popular option among human resources personnel because it allows you to collaborate with other team members easily while staying on top of what needs to be done at any given time. It includes a free and paid edition, like to Trello.
- Wrike:
A comprehensive project management tool that offers features like time tracking, collaboration, and task management. It has a free version for up to five users and a paid version for larger teams.
Communication Tools:
When managing remote workers in Lagos, communication is essential. Here are a few of the most widely used communication methods:
- Slack:
A messaging app that allows team members to communicate quickly and easily. It has both mobile and desktop apps, and it integrates with a variety of other tools like Trello and Asana.
- Google Meet:
A video conferencing tool that’s perfect for remote teams. It allows you to have face-to-face conversations with team members, no matter where they are in the world.
- Microsoft Teams:
A collaboration platform that combines chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. It’s a great tool for teams that need to work together on documents or other types of content.
Collaboration Tools:
Collaboration tools are essential for managing remote teams. They help to ensure that everyone is working together effectively and that nothing falls through the cracks. Here are some of the most popular collaboration tools:
- Google Drive:
A cloud-based storage solution that allows teams to collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It’s perfect for remote teams in Lagos because it allows everyone to access the same files from anywhere in the world.
- Dropbox:
Another cloud-based storage solution, it allows you to share files with team members quickly and easily, and it integrates with a variety of other tools like Trello and Asana.
- GitHub:
A collaboration platform that’s perfect for remote teams that work on software development projects. It allows you to manage code repositories, track bugs, and collaborate with other developers all in one place.
Conclusion
In this article, we have looked at some of the challenges of Lagos Human resources management, and how to overcome them.
- Communication is key. Make sure you have a clear communication plan in place so that everyone knows what to expect from each other and when they can expect it.
- Be flexible with your expectations. Don’t be too rigid about how things should be done; instead, focus on getting results and making sure everyone is happy with their work environment.
- Use tools like Slack or Google workspace if possible so that you don’t have to worry about being physically present all the time–your team members can still communicate with each other without having direct access to your office space!
As a human resource personnel, managing remote teams becomes easier when you recruit people that fit into your organization’s culture. People who share the same goals, and values and are willing to go hard for the team.
With Getajob hiring solution, you can build a world-class team faster. Get in touch with our experts to start building.