Use video as much as possible to maintain face-to-face interactions that are lost with remote work and help prevent isolation. Schedule more frequent short check-ins throughout the week beyond regularly scheduled meetings to maintain connections. Plan occasional virtual social activities to foster team bonding and fun despite physical separation. Be patient as remote work will be an adjustment, especially during a pandemic, and offer support to help employees balance work and personal lives.

1. Effectively
Manage a
Remote
Team With
These 4
Tips
(It’s Easier Than You Think)
BRIANBERNERSPOTIFY.COM
BY BRIAN BERNER

2. As the global pandemic lingers on, Spotify joined a handful of other
tech giants in expanding their work-from-home policies until at
least the end of this year. Our employees have been working
remotely since COVID-19 started spreading across the world.

3. Remote work has been
gradually increasing in
popularity. Since 2005, it’s
grown by over 140%,
which is ten times faster
than the rest of the
workforce. Remote work is
especially prevalent within
the tech industry and at
organizations that employ
younger personnel, but
most industries have been
slower to adopt work-
from-home policies —
until now.

4. Companies have had no choice but to extend WFH policies to
their staff in response to the coronavirus. Managing a remote
team doesn’t come as naturally to some leaders as it does to
others, but it’s even more intimidating for managers who’ve never
done it before.
Don’t let managing remote employees scare you. It’s easier than
you might think, especially if you follow these four tips:

5. USE VIDEO AS
MUCH AS
POSSIBLE
Remote work eliminates the
face-to-face time employees
usually get when they come
into the office. At first, the
lack of camaraderie might
not be noticed, but just give
it time. Employees may start
to feel isolated and
unmotivated. Encourage
more screen time between
employees, but try to use
video platforms as much as
you can when speaking to
your own team members.
There’s a lot you can miss
when you only connect by
phone or email.

6. In the office, you could walk over to an
employee’s desk every time you had a
quick question about a project or task,
and they could do the same with you.
But when you’re at home, these
frequent touchpoints gradually
disappear. Be strict about your
regularly scheduled meetings, but also
schedule smaller check-ins throughout
the week. These conversations don’t
have to be expansive or work-related.
Even asking about their mental and
physical health can have a huge impact
on morale.
SCHEDULE
MORE
FREQUENT
CHECK-INS

7. PLAN A
VIRTUAL
SOCIAL
EVERY
ONCE IN
AWHILE
Just because employees are all working from home doesn’t mean you can’t
still have some fun together. We’ve hosted a variety of activities included,
but not limited to team happy hours, workout classes, cooking lessons, live
music performances featuring employees, magic shows, floral arranging
classes and much more. This time has given us an opportunity to try things
we normally wouldn’t have and it’s been much easier organizing around
people’s schedules.

8. Be
patient
Remote work will be a difficult adjustment
for some of your employees. Given the
fact that we’re in the middle of a
pandemic, employees are going to be
more anxious than ever. This might
require some patience on your end as they
work to figure out how to be productive
and engaged in a new environment. If they
come to you with an issue, offer your full
support in amending the problem. With all
that’s going on, focusing on work can be
challenging. As you work with them more
frequently, they’ll be able to establish a
better work-life balance.