Hurrah for the ability to manage your teams from anywhere – since the rise of remote work has been rapid, there has been a focus on management for teams who are remote, in the field, and anywhere in between. If a field team is a new part of your business, then you are in the ideal position to create a strategy for good management. Management that reaches beyond a check-in via mobile phone and emailed checklists.
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Is field team management more difficult than in-office teams?
The answer is yes, and no. Often field teams are highly motivated, goal-driven, and want to complete their tasks. With that autonomy, field teams are highly efficient in most cases. However, it is a trust-based relationship since you can’t see what they are doing.
While the field team might not be in the office or around other staff often, they should still be included in everything that happens when it comes to big meetings and work events. Keeping them in the loop and part of everything that goes on.
Zoom
Love them or hate them, Zoom meetings can be a great way to keep a little bit of face-to-face in the lives of the field team. Quick one-to-one meetings can be taken; screen sharing is a valuable tool, as well as on-the-job conversations, should it be needed. In place of in-person meetings, Zoom makes a good option.
Transparency
It is possible for any remote workers and field teams to feel disconnected or out of the loop when it comes to parts of the business. When you have multiple teams that you don’t see daily, it is very easy to take an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach. Instead, you need to ensure you are nurturing a culture that is transparent to all teams.
If that becomes part of the company culture, it will be something that the field team and other remote teams respect and work with too.
Transparency can come from the software and tools you use; there are many field services for businesses that will help with tracking, timetables, support, and more for the teams. But it also means that everyone can see what is in process, what will come next, and how things need to be handled.
Micromanagement
When it comes to micromanagement, it can be all too easy to start this bad habit with remote and field teams. Since you can see them, you might feel like you lack control. And as a result, you might be trying to push specific techniques or ask for details of the task that really don’t matter.
Microment will send your field team running for the hills instead of focusing on the outcome. Was the task completed to a high standard? Are they delivering on time? Is their tool and resource management good? The aim should be to trust your field team and give them autonomy to make decisions about the work.
Feedback
Only some members of your team will need feedback; in fact, some would prefer not to get any at all. However, studies show that around 4 in 10 employees will become uninterested and disengaged with their role without feedback.
The trick to giving great feedback is to make sure that it is handed out in both formal and informal settings and that there is a solid mix of positive feedback and what can be improved.
Keep in mind that feedback goes both ways; if you expect to give it, you should expect to get it too. Your team will be able to tell you where you are doing things right and what you need to improve on as management.
This loop of feedback will ultimately lead to a higher productivity team, with less turnover and a better working relationship.
Company vision
Your field team is the one who is going to be meeting people, and it is crucial that they understand and support the company’s vision. In fact, you could argue that they are one of the most critical aspects of how your company is viewed and vital to the overall achievement of the vision.
When looking for high productivity, an autonomous team, and increased motivation, the company vision is something that can get everyone on the same page.
Managing a field team or a remote team does have some challenges, but with open communication, great software, working in real-time, and all aiming for the same thing, you’ll find it much easier to manage.
Focusing on making sure your team is working as one is important; here is how to make that happen: How to Make Employees Feel Like Family.
