How To Manage A Remote Development Team

Considering the recent transformations in the US workforce, including the COVID-19 pandemic and The Great Resignation, it’s no news that remote work is here to stay. This is especially true when it comes to the future of the IT industry, as remote software development has proven to be a fantastic way to reduce coding costs.

These competitive advantages have not slipped under the radar of business managers within the tech industry, as 85% of them affirm remote teams will become the new normal for many companies. Still, running a remote development team can be challenging for those new to working with nearshore developers.

That’s why we created a roundup of our favorite tips for managing a remote coding team. Keep reading to learn how to effectively manage remote developers!

8 tips for managing a remote software development team

#1 Share the company’s vision when you manage a remote development team.

Believe it or not, employees perform at their best when they’re engaged and committed to the company’s vision. All workers, including remote developers, need to feel they’re working towards a common goal, a greater cause that’s worth all the effort. In the case of the corporate world, this common goal is your company’s vision and mission.

Knowing the purpose of their role in the company will help nearshore developers connect with the team and the projects they’re assigned to more effectively.

In fact, this management tactic has been studied before, with 94% of employees and 98% of employers affirming the connection between greater performance results and a passion for the company’s vision is absolutely critical.

#2 Maintain open communication channels with your nearshore developers.

Communication is key in most areas of both life and business. If you want to properly manage a team of remote developers, then you need to have clear communication with them.

This will allow you to discuss project details more efficiently and provide honest feedback without fear of creating an awkward situation.

You can improve your communication with the remote team through weekly updates, regular standups, and different open channels. Be sure to let your team of remote developers know that you’re there for them if they have any questions and that you want to be actively involved in their progress.

This will help you build trust with your remote developers and become a more efficient team.

#3 Provide clear product documentation before starting a new remote development project.

Product documentation is relevant for most industries, especially those with eCommerce businesses. Yet when it comes to software development, product documentation helps software developers truly understand the vision for the coding product they’re supposed to develop.

You need to send all product documentation to the development team in charge of the project so they can use it as a knowledge base to design the product with a clear result in mind.

#4 Have a proper onboarding process before you manage a remote development team.

While onboarding processes might seem less of a big deal in a remote working environment, it’s actually the other way around. In-person onboarding is important, of course.

But, if the process isn’t top-notch, in-person employees can find other ways to become accustomed to the company’s operations. For remote developers, the onboarding process is their one chance to learn everything they need to know about your company and the rest of the team. Taking into account that a great onboarding process can improve employee retention by 82%, creating a proper onboarding process when you manage a remote development team becomes crucial.

#5 Coordinate the working hours of remote developers with your on-site staff.

When you work with a nearshore software development team, time zone differences happen. While these are minimal compared to those working with offshore developers, there’s still a one to three-hour difference with most developers.

To maximize your company’s working hours, it’s best to pick a schedule where all team members share at least a couple of office hours.

This will allow you to manage a remote development team through regular communication and real-time collaboration with other members of the staff.

#6 Take advantage of remote work tools when managing remote teams.

Ever since the boom of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the market boasts dozens of different tools that make life easier for remote teams.

When managing a remote software development team, it’s best to take advantage of the wide array of tools offered. You can use communication platforms like Slack or Notion, time-tracking apps like Harvest, and work suites such as Google Workspace.

#7 Train remote developers to thrive in an independent work environment.

Micromanaging is not a smart move no matter the work dynamic of your team, but it’s especially pointless when you manage a remote software development team.

The reason behind the ineffectiveness of this practice is that nearshore developers will most likely not work at the same time as you do nor be able to share every little detail through the internet. It’s best to give remote software developers the opportunity to work independently and then show you the results or give an update when it’s really needed.

That’s why a good remote manager trains their team to succeed when working in a very independent environment while still maintaining clear communication.

#8 Stablish clear project guidelines and firm deadlines.

While we’ve shared with you the need to train developers to work well independently, this will take some extra effort if you want to complete projects at an efficient speed.

Deadlines and project guidelines are two elements that will allow your remote development team to increase their performance while avoiding burnout.

First off, deadlines are important because they allow them to distribute their time accordingly. Yet project guidelines are also crucial because of how they facilitate a clear understanding of the work a developer needs to complete.

Make sure your remote team understands the nature of the projects and the end results they should aim to achieve, as well as the due date for the first draft.

Need to hire and manage a remote development team? You’ve come to the right place!

Before managing a remote software development team, there’s one thing you’ll need: top-notch nearshore developers. At Next Idea Tech, we understand that finding the right nearshore development team can be a challenge if your company is new to software outsourcing.

That’s why we’ve created a signature technical vetting process and put together a large network of international developers you can trust to solve your coding needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you assemble a remote development team!

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