1.
Keys to managing a successful distributed
team
The Ricaris experience

2.
What problems do distributed
teams have?
• Poor recruitment
• Lack of communication
• Disconnection from the team
• Lack of trust
• No sense of duty
• No binding culture
• Loneliness
• Boredom
• Unmotivated leaders and team members

3.
Wait!

4.
Ricaris: 100% distributed team
• 25 countries
• Working around
the clock

5.
HR in numbers
• Turnover rate 5% average.
• 67% of current team members and team leaders have
been in the company for 5 years.
• We have meet in person only 7 out of 228 employees.
• Team travel budget in 6 years: 480€ total.
How do we do it?

6.
1-Recruiting
• Not everybody can work remotely.
– Be autonomous by nature
– Have a certain degree of self-motivation
– Be a good communicator, at least in
writing
– Share or relate to the company’s
mission and vision
• Set clear expectations

7.
2-Company Culture

8.
2- IMPLEMENT Company Culture
in a Distributed Team
1. New hire tunnel:
1. “Good vibes” handbook:
1. Clear expectations
2. Ground rules
3. Break paradigms - multicultural team
2. We care. Speed courses:
1. Assertive communication, email communication,…
2. Ergonomics and stretching
3. Specific skills
2. All procedures must be very well documented
3. Daily mentoring during the first 2 weeks

9.
2-How we KEEP Company Culture
•Repetitionwith creativity
• Team Leaders set example:
– Close accompaniment
– Assertive feedback
• Always act consequently:
– Communication and actions from the heart
• Help unmatched employees find a way out

10.
3-Keeping Team Leaders
motivated
• Monthly Congress (4h):
1. Fun ice-breaker or personal info sharing
2. Into the circle: share relevant company information
3. Course or development activity
4. Fun activity
• Weekly report and feedback
• Show warmth
• Real accompaniment and support
• Identification with company values

11.
3-Keep Team Members motivated
• Knowledge of the team and their aspirations.
• Active listening
• Real meritocracy and empowerment
• Weekly feedback
• Monthy Team Get Togethers (2h):
– Feel accompanied, sense of belonging
– Find solutions together, creates bonding
• Involve team in improvements
• Repeat why each person’s work is important
• Involve team in goal settings

12.
3-How to work on trust
Your goal as a manager: trust
• Team members need to know each other:
– Monthly get together
– Do personality tests + games
– Get to know each other’s skills
– Get personal

13.
Motivation killer:
Beating loneliness
• Use video ALWAYS
• Make communication warm
• Weekly feedback
• Promote Virtual water coolers
• Team Get together
• Private Social media
• Pay for co-working spaces
• Promote and pay for city/regional face-to-face meetings
• Do activities to increase identification with company and team

14.
Motivation killer: Beating
boredom
• Find out what is and isn’t boring for your team
• Promoting participation in transversal projects
• Project related contests
• Possibility to change projects or tasks inside a
project
• Provide growth
• Activities outside the project

15.
Motivation drivers:
• Provide development and empowerment
• Help workers achieve their dreams and aspirations
• Gratitude and listening
• Show you care:
– Get personal
– Send real gifts: fruit baskets, books,…
– 1:1 meetings to gather information
• Have fun:
– Photo contest
– Song sharing
– Telegram groups
– Social media

16.
Managing-Virtual-Teams.com
• Courses for Managers and Team Members
• Facilitate Team Activities
• 1:1 Consulting
Skype: annadanes
anna.danes@managing-virtual-teams.com