How to Work Remotely in 2021 with a Virtual Team and Why Entrepreneurs Should Do the Same

Welcome to 2021!

It’s no secret that the New Year may not be looking all that happy right now, but let’s focus on one of the positives: remote working is no longer an unknown.

 

By now, most of us have been through this before, and you’ve probably managed to sort out many of the basics of operating as part of a virtual team. Perhaps you’ve set up a small home office, or installed new software for better communications with remote employees. But now that it’s 2021, it’s time to move beyond the basics. It’s time to look at ways not just to work remotely with a virtual team, but to do it productively and successfully.

 

 

Of course, there are lots of things that contribute to success – everything from corporate website design to digital marketing. But there are a few essential things to keep in mind in the current climate...

 

 

Get everyone on the same page

 

At the start of the remote revolution, the most important thing for virtual teams was to get things done, in whatever way they could. Now, it’s time to introduce a bit more structure. If employees have been using different tools for the same tasks, it’s important to get everyone on the same page, using the same software. You need to introduce more consistency and prevent data from falling through the cracks.

 

 

Streamline remote processes

 

So far, sending documents between team members via email has probably been OK. But that’s exactly the problem: it’s just OK. Remote working is looking set to stick around. It’s vital that virtual teams have better processes in place to help them achieve their day-to-day goals. Cloud-based tools that enable real-time collaboration can help here, eradicating some of the sticking points of remote working.  Check out this comprehensive list of essential remote work tools compiled by Toptal.

 

 

“Remote working has been one of the most tangible impacts of coronavirus on the economy. For many, it could be here to stay." Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the IoD

 

 

Adapt your management style

 

You may have heard people say that working with a virtual team is not all that different from working with an on-site team. I’ve heard it said myself. And I’ve laughed. Working with a virtual team is hugely different. It’s simply not possible to lead a remote team using the same management practices that you’d use in the office. The key is to put people first, listen to their needs, and build upwards from there.

 

 

Prioritise security

 

Cybersecurity is an area that every business should already be prioritising. But now that many teams are working remotely outside of the office, security is even more important. Working with a virtual team in 2021 means ensuring every member of the team is aware of risk, and of their own responsibilities. I recently wrote a blog about business data security that you may find helpful.

 

 

"In April 2020, nearly half (46.6%) of people in employment did some of their work from home, with the vast majority (86.0%) of these homeworkers stating that this was because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic." Office for National Statistics - report April 2020

 

 

Calling all entrepreneurs

 

The advice I’ve shared above doesn’t just relate to big corporations or medium-sized organisations. It relates to you, too. Yes, the office is the traditional ‘cornerstone’ of business. And yes, it offers credibility and communicates success. But in 2021 it’s also a constraint. It limits what you can do.

Working with a remote team to build your business from the ground up breaks down the geographical barriers to talent. It helps you find the best – not just the best in your area. Consider us, here at myCloud, for example. We’re Yorkshire website designers, yet we offer our digital services to businesses and entrepreneurs all over the country.

 

At the end of the day, what really matters is that you create value. Do you really need an office for that?