Modern-day technology has opened the doors for remote workers and virtual teams. But now that we are no longer limited to working in the same physical space as our team, we need to deal with a new set of challenges.

How, for instance, do you motivate your virtual team to be more productive?

In a traditional office, managers can just walk the floor once in a while and already this helps keep employees from procrastinating (aka management by walking around). What’s the equivalent for virtual teams? Give these five steps a try and see how well they can work for your business.

1. Choose the right people.

Begin by choosing the right people for the job.

When hiring, you will want to take into account not just skills and achievements, but also whether or not a candidate will be the right cultural fit. Often, all it takes is a conversation—find out if they’re truly capable of doing the job and see how well you get along. It’s tough to work with someone you’re not comfortable with.

Find the perfect balance between credentials and chemistry by asking creative and curveball questions. These can show you how your prospective employee can think on their feet and how their thought process works. You can ask them what they’re not good at or give them a test project.

2. Equip them with reliable tools.

By giving your team the proper tools for the job, you empower them to do their work well.

It’s essential for virtual teams to have a stable internet connection so you can keep in contact. Make sure they have dependable hardware that won’t break easily. Having to constantly replace equipment is bound to be expensive in the long run, not to mention inconvenient.

Apart from a stable internet connection, dependable hardware (computers and phones), the typical necessities for a virtual team include sufficient storage for data and up-to-date applications for task management and productivity. Consider sending your team to a coworking space or a serviced office that can provide the resources and stable infrastructure they need.

3. Engage regularly and be genuine.

Communicate “in person” to better connect with your team.

Your team may be half a world away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t meet face to face. Or at least, see each other’s faces. Take video calls instead of plain-old email or voice calls to make interactions more personal. It’s also a great reminder that you work with actual human beings, and not pixels on a screen.

4. Focus on quality instead of quantity.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and good things take time.

There will be days when your team can’t meet deadlines, and that’s okay. You chose these people for a reason. Trust them to do their job and make sure to put the right metrics in place to help keep everyone on track. Remember that it’s more important to present a finished product than a haphazard one.

5. Provide relevant and constructive feedback.

Plato is credited with this saying: “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.”

Consider mistakes as opportunities for growth and give everyone room for improvement. Set standards and expectations, brief your team properly, and provide the complete details for every task to leave little room for miscommunication.

 

Motivating a team is going to take more than sticking dramatic posters up or sharing cheesy quotes on social media. Establish real connections with your team. Inspire them to invest care and attention into the work that you do and you will all benefit in the end.