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How to manage a remote development team is a prominent question in 2023.

Software developers are among the top 5 professional jobs that can be done remotely worldwide. Right after the pandemic, 92% of team members expected to work from home at least once a week, and 80% expected to spend a minimum of three days working remotely. In 2023, 55% of software engineers want to work remotely all the time, mainly because it avoids long commutes and allows for a better work-life balance.

So, it is self-evident that creating an environment that supports fully remote work for team members is on the front page.

The diagram above shows global engineers’ ideal balance of remote vs. in-office work in 2023.

If companies fail to create a conducive remote work environment, their developers might eventually seek opportunities elsewhere that align with their preferences for remote jobs.

Factor Dedicated Team will share seven practical tips for managing remote software engineering teams in this article. These insights will encourage you to refine your hiring approach, optimize communication practices, and elevate your team's productivity. Embrace these tips to nurture a remote team that thrives.

Benefits from remote software development teams

Building or hiring a dedicated remote development team can be a game-changing decision for your business. Here are several reasons why this move stands out as the best choice:

10 tips on how to manage remote developers on your team

Creating well-defined rules for your remote developers is fundamental to optimizing their performance.

Stand-up meetings and prevalent SCRUM ceremonies are effective communication methods. These brief and focused gatherings enable remote teams to synchronize their efforts, share progress, and address potential roadblocks, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.

To hire remote developers for important roles, consider prioritizing candidates with prior experience in such setups. These remote engineers are more likely to have developed self-management skills, emphasizing goals over rigid work hours. Their familiarity with remote work dynamics can contribute significantly to the business's success.

Now, let's delve into seven tips for managing remote software engineering teams to excel in the remote work culture.

1. Consider time zones for each remote developer

When hiring remote developers from around the world, consider time zone differences first. It's essential to decide quite early on whether your remote teams will adhere to a consistent "common time" or allow flexibility for employees to work during their local off-hours.

To streamline team management, you can leverage the power of Sup. This is a tool designed with timezone considerations in mind. By default, Sup acknowledges the existing timezone settings, making it an ideal solution for automating various aspects of team management. With Sup, you can schedule stand-ups and follow-ups, as the tool automates these processes. Moreover, it handles survey reminders automatically and considers the timezone settings of your remote team of developers.

2. Use tools that support remote teams

This image shows collaboration tools.

There are a lot of tools that cater to managing developers.

Communication platforms, such as Slack or Skype, enable seamless interaction between team members, bridging the distance and fostering a cohesive work environment.

Project management tools, such as Trello or Jira, aid in organizing tasks, tracking progress, and ensuring everyone stays on track. Let's dive deeper into this topic.

Communication tools that can utilize remote manager

Effective remote communication software enables instant communication, tracking time, file sharing, and managing remote employees' schedules smoothly. Here are some excellent tools that rank high among the best for remote teams:

• Slack: This platform offers instant messaging capabilities and provides a chat room option, making it helpful in collaborating with external team members.

The screenshot above shows the Slack page.

• Google Drive: Google Drive is a robust cloud-based file synchronization tool offered by Google. It provides a secure and centralized storage platform. That’s why you can access your files and documents from any device with an internet connection, whether your team members use a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
• Zoom: An intuitive video conferencing solution that easily adapts to your team's requirements, scaling as your team grows. Additionally, Zoom offers convenient screen-sharing functionality, making it ideal for interactive meetings and presentations. Many consider it the top choice for webinars.

Project management software for managing remote teams

For managing software teams, you can use two following tools:

• Trello: It stands out as a straightforward and free project management software made for effectively managing remote teams. With this tool, you can track progress easily. Its user-friendly interface allows you to create separate boards for different projects, employing lists and cards to organize tasks efficiently. You can add detailed descriptions and assign cards (i.e., tasks) to team members. Collaborating is a breeze with the ability to leave comments, fostering seamless communication. Accessible on the web, iOS, and Android platforms, Trello ensures convenience for all team members.

This screenshot shows the Trello page.

• GitHub: This source code management (SCM) platform emerges as the holy grail, with an extensive user base of over 50 million developers worldwide. As a free code hosting platform, GitHub enables robust team collaboration and version control. From hosting application code to facilitating project review and management, GitHub proves to be an indispensable tool for developers. This versatile platform caters to both Windows and macOS users.

3. Over-communicate with remote team

In remote work, over-communicating is an important rule for continuous improvement.

The first aspect of effective communication is addressing all the 5Ws: what, where, who, why, and when.

Consider sending follow-up emails after VoIP phone calls to ensure thoroughness and clarity. Leveraging suitable tools can significantly aid in disseminating essential updates and relevant information to your developers and team leaders. This practice helps guarantee that all points are covered, leaving no room for unanswered questions.

Additionally, you can create explanatory videos using software like Loom for asynchronous communication to provide high over-communication.

4. Invest in a team lead to manage the software development team remotely

If you are a team lead, your developers look up to you. At the beginning and end of each meeting, take the opportunity to offer compliments to your team. Express what impresses you explicitly about the project's progress.

While compliments and recognition are essential, don't overlook the impact of small gestures and presents. Demonstrating appreciation through thoughtful gifts like t-shirts, mugs, and badges adorned with your company logo can go a long way.

Bonuses, too, play a role in boosting team morale. When team members feel valued and rewarded for their efforts, they are more motivated to work harder and deliver exceptional results. Consider bonuses as an investment in the project's success and a heartfelt way of showing appreciation to your developers.

5. Enhance feedback in managing a remote software development team

Managing remote workers requires a delicate balance between independence and guidance. You can achieve this by offering constant feedback to each remote developer.

However, there are risks involved. Sometimes providing feedback can lead to interpretation and clarity, potentially undermining the desired outcomes. When addressing areas for growth, it's crucial to provide clear and recent examples of alternative approaches. People grasp concepts better when supported by real-life instances.

Let's explore some key elements that constructive feedback should includes:

1. specificity (feedback should pertain to particular issues, avoiding personal attacks and fostering a constructive atmosphere);
2. timeliness (address problems promptly, without delay);
3. clarity (use straightforward language to ensure your developers can readily grasp your message);
4. goal-oriented (feedback should be geared toward achieving specific objectives).

Consider the Agile methodology, which empowers remote developers to construct products while receiving ongoing insights. As a result, you can make necessary adjustments based on market feedback and enhance your development process.

The scheme showcases Agile methodology.

6. Allocate resources to support the professional development of your workers

Having skilled and productive developers who meet their KPIs is great, but it's essential to remember their professional growth in the long run.

Encourage each remote developer to explore new online courses to stay updated with the fast-changing software development world. New libraries, frameworks, and tools are always popping up. Without continuous learning, the developer's skills might soon become obsolete or less relevant.

Investing in professional development might cost money, but it's an important investment.

7. Focus on remote work environments and team spirit

Building team spirit in remote work environments is crucial for fostering a positive and productive atmosphere. Here are some practical strategies to achieve this early on.

• Promote face-to-face interactions: Encourage team members to turn on their cameras during virtual meetings. Seeing each other's faces helps strengthen connections and enhance communication, even when working from different locations.
• Conduct feedback meetings: Schedule regular feedback sessions to understand how employees feel and identify improvement areas. Listening to their concerns and suggestions shows that their opinions are valued.
• Host virtual social events: Organize virtual happy hours or birthday celebrations to create opportunities for team bonding and casual interactions. These fun events help build camaraderie among remote team members.
• Show genuine care: Demonstrate real concern for your team by regularly checking their well-being. Simply asking how they are doing and actively listening to their responses can make a significant difference.
• Recognize and appreciate hard work: Acknowledge your employees' efforts and achievements. Recognizing their hard work boosts morale and motivates them to continue giving their best.

Final words for remote software development team

Remote jobs have become the ubiquitous norm, revolutionizing the way we work. Despite the numerous positive effects on productivity reported by remote workers, it remains crucial to pay attention to the importance of engagement. To ensure your software team thrives in this remote environment, embracing our seven practical tips and consistently reevaluating your team's strategies is essential. Doing so can foster a culture of motivation and unity, enabling your remote software development team to achieve outstanding results.

If you have any questions on how to manage a remote team of developers or need help from the experts, contact the Factor Dedicated Team anytime. We are here to support your journey toward achieving excellence in software development and beyond.

Frequently Asking Questions about managing a remote software development team

What are the top 3 challenges you face while managing team remotely?

In effective remote team management, three significant challenges demand our utmost attention:

• Asynchronous communication struggles: Overseeing remote teams puts communication skills to the test. The lack of an effective communication platform can lead to misunderstandings and delays.
• Collaboration: Seamless collaboration, often fostered in a shared workspace, becomes elusive in the remote setting. We utilize innovative approaches (including collaboration tools) to bridge the distance to encourage entire team brainstorming.
• Productivity and time management: Ensuring productivity and holding team members accountable from afar is demanding. We rely on efficient project management tools and communication channels to tackle this challenge.

How do you lead a remote virtual team?

To lead a remote virtual team effectively:

1. communicate clearly
2. trust and empower other team members
3. align goals and objectives
4. organize virtual team-building activities
5. be flexible and understanding
6. schedule regular check-ins
7. embrace technology
8. lead by example
9. track performance and provide feedback
10. recognize and appreciate achievements.

How do you engage with remote developers?

To get your remote developers engaged, you can do the following:

1. communicate regularly
2. provide straightforward tasks and goals
3. foster collaboration
4. trust and encourage them
5. offer support when needed
6. recognize achievements
7. use effective communication tools
8. organize virtual software development team building
9. be flexible
10. provide continuous feedback.

How do you manage a remote team efficiently?

To successfully manage tasks of remote workers efficiently:

1. maintain open and clear communication channels using video conferencing, messaging apps, and emails
2. set well-defined expectations for each team member's roles and responsibilities to ensure a shared understanding of objectives
3. employ collaboration tools and project management platforms to facilitate seamless teamwork and task coordination.

Trust your remote team members to work independently and empower them to make decisions within their expertise. Align the team's goals with the organization's broader vision to foster a sense of purpose and direction.

Conduct regular check-ins to provide feedback, address concerns, monitor progress, and recognize team members' achievements and career development to boost team spirit and morale. Encourage skill development, offer growth opportunities, and continuously evaluate and improve software development team management processes.

How do managers manage remote employees?

Managers manage developers by setting clear expectations, utilizing remote-friendly collaboration tools to facilitate seamless teamwork, streamline workflows, and offer regular feedback and recognition to boost self-motivation and productivity among remote software developer team members.