Connection Enables Coordination

Do overs, replicating work or expecting team members to know who is responsible, without specific guidance does not work remotely, or otherwise. There is nothing more frustrating than learning that you have been working on the same task as someone else, resulting in duplication of efforts. A project plan, list of responsibilities, or workload tracking tool is essential. When it is available to the team, they are aware what is being done by whom and when it is expected to be finished.

To have a devoted flexible team who collaborate effectively we should pay attention to the three levels of connection.

Intellectual connection in work teams encompasses the allocation of workload and knowledge of the work that needs to be completed. When teams are connected on an intellectual level, they respect each other’s knowledge and skills and understand the strengths they each bring to the team. Teammates are clear on who to reach out to depending on the requirement. They foresee issues before they arise and know who is best placed to offer a solution

Coordinating a remote team requires a higher level of organisation than is often displayed in the office. That is not to say the amount of structure is acceptable, it is simply that, you can often get away with mediocre planning when it is possible to overhear when something is going off track. Working remotely provides an opportunity for us to deliver at a higher level than we have before because it is vital that we are more organised than we were before. According to a study by Adaptavist the biggest challenges of working remotely for team managers after technical issues, is managing workloads and understanding what people are working on and the status of their work. Taking the time for kick off meetings and lessons learnt is a good idea this should ensure that mistakes are not repeated. Talking to the team and allowing their suggestions on how to improve collaboration is invaluable. Work can be delivered seamlessly when working remotely – how do you think all the mines and oil rigs have been constructed? It is a matter of being more organised and deliberate in the management of the resources and workloads and most importantly prioritising connection with the group.