10 Ways to Manage a Global Team Successfully

Globalization has paved the way for a borderless marketplace. Having remote employees and coworkers from various backgrounds has become increasingly common in recent years. Many businesses have encouraged the incorporation of cultural diversity into their workplaces because it not only enforces a positive work environment but also allows potential candidates from all over the world to put forth their best efforts to make projects a success. Leaving aside all of the benefits of a global team, it presents a significant challenge for managers to manage individuals not only from different backgrounds but also some of whom are not physically present with them. As a result, managers must understand how to effectively manage a global team.

Read: How to Manage Remote Teams Effectively

Here are a few effective methods that managers can use to successfully manage a global team:

1. Acknowledge cultural differences

It is critical to be aware of cultural differences in order to avoid conflicts caused by diversity. By ensuring that not only you but also your employees understand the importance of cultural differences in the workplace, you can maximize the potential of your business by uniting everyone to focus on achieving your goals, which is especially important when working with and leading global teams. You can hold discussions with your team to educate yourself and your employees about different cultural backgrounds. It will assist you in instilling the same practice of inclusion in your employees.

2. Encourage participation

One of the many challenges managers face when global team management is getting everyone to participate not only in projects but also in meetings and planning, especially when a portion of the team is not physically present. However, in order to successfully lead a global team, everyone must participate equally in discussions and contribute equally to their respective projects. A good way to accomplish this is to hold informal meetings in which everyone is encouraged to participate. Asking for their feedback can make team members feel more included.

3. Give employees access to company resources

The resources of companies are undoubtedly available to the portion of employees who work physically from the office. However, this is not usually the case for the majority of international or remote employees. To ensure high-quality output and a smooth workflow, it is critical that you provide each and every one of your employees with the tools they need to complete their tasks. Support can take the form of mental health care, legal aid, child or elder care, gadgets, or financial counseling. This could also mean you invest in your employees to upskill and improve themselves. Executive education programs from Northwest Education is a great way to do this. Whether you are looking for a management program, a leadership program, or something geared towards technology and innovation, you will find a suitable program to train your employees. This might also be a great opportunity for teams to learn and work together from different parts of the world.

4. Develop trust

When people can communicate freely and effectively without fear of being judged or not being heard, teams perform best. It is critical for officials to establish trust with both offline and online employees so that they can easily share their problems and request the necessary expertise. Apart from communication, one of the many ways to build trust for those who work remotely is to provide them with resources and timely salary payments. This motivates them to do their best along with increasing their trust in the company’s legitimacy.

Read: How to Build Trust in Your Team

5. Communicate more often

Communication is one of those tools that can make or break a global team’s performance. With employees working from the office, communicating on a regular basis and soliciting regular progress does not appear to be a necessary task. Communication is the foundation for those who work remotely. Ensure regular virtual meetings, whether video or audio, to maintain a sense of team spirit. Apart from ensuring the best possible output, communication is also essential for bringing all team members together, as not all employees are physically present in a global team.

Read: Virtual Ways to Strengthen a Team

6. Use well-known platforms

Communication and collaboration are critical for ensuring effective global team cooperation. Working on the same platforms and using the same tools, using the same calendars and timetables, and communicating through the same channels are just a few ways to make it easier and more frequent for the team to collaborate. Discuss with the team and select a common platform that works for everyone to hold further discussions and important meetings so that no one misses out on any important piece of information due to a technical glitch or a lack of appropriate knowledge to use a certain tool that works for some but not for others.

7. Enforce and adhere to a proper schedule

It is hard to carry out impromptu meetings or projects when employees work both online and offline, in different time zones, and from different locations. The team must be given time for every event, even if it is only a short meeting. Because your common time will be limited, make the most of it by collaborating on a project or analyzing concepts or ideas. Create a framework and distribute an agenda to ensure that personnel arrive prepared to make the most of these time constraints. Scheduling the entire week provides information to employees in advance, reducing the possibility of employees missing out on an opportunity to attend due to being informed just in time, or not being able to participate due to not having done the proper research to participate. Consider different time zones before holding a discussion.

One of the most common issues encountered when managing a global team is the time when an important piece of information needs to be shared; it is not necessary that the time zone for all employees working online is appropriate. It presents a problem when discussions are held in time zones that are inconvenient for those working remotely. This not only deprives them of the opportunity to participate in the meetings but also leaves them uninformed of the important information. As a result, it is critical for managers to consider different time zones before deciding on a specific time period that allows each employee to comfortably participate when managing a global team.

8. Embrace hardships

Distractions can significantly impair a remote team member’s ability to concentrate and generate high-quality work when working from home, or work from home taking a toll on their social life may be affecting their mental health. To increase efficiency, consider providing an alternative workplace option, such as a co-working space in their area. Even if they are not in the same city as the rest of the team, this will provide them with a professional work environment.

Alternatively, you can encourage them by providing the resources to set up a separate workspace in their homes. This may also encourage spontaneous networking, which may boost productivity significantly.

9. Provide frequent feedback

Giving employees honest feedback is one of the simplest ways to motivate them to work to their full potential. Appreciate and reward them in areas where they excel and provide them with appropriate guidance in areas where they need to improve. Of course, face-to-face meetings are not the only way to gain such knowledge. Remote team members can also check in with one another via phone, email, or videoconferencing to see how the collaboration is going. Analyzing each individual’s performance on a regular basis is an essential part of global team management.

Managing a global team requires flexibility and an appreciation for diversity. Leaders must anticipate that problems and patterns will change or reoccur as teams shift, disband, and regroup. Global team management is an exciting but overwhelming experience. However, with the aforementioned tips in this article, you will undoubtedly be able to improve your performance.