Once upon a time, hiring meant firm handshakes, in-person interviews, and shared office spaces. Fast forward to today, and the landscape of work completely changed with the traditional office setting becoming a mere memory and skilled professionals are now unbound by geographical borders.
As HR managers and senior leaders, adapting to the ever-evolving remote world is not just about filling positions. It is about fostering a community of skilled professionals using a strategic approach to building, managing, and optimising remote teams. Today, we will be looking at different approaches to optimise your internal strategies with insights to guarantee your success.
Going beyond the usual methods, building remote teams is not just about bringing people together; it is about creating a diverse range of skills, perspectives, and cultures. Below are some of the areas you should focus on to bring people together with varied expertise, viewpoints, and backgrounds.
Culture of Connection, Not Communication:
Opening your laptop to endless spam of Slack threads – we have all been there, but communication needs to go beyond this and be about creating a culture of intentional connections. Invest in tools like virtual team-building activities and regular one-on-one video calls that go beyond work updates. Those water cooler conversations have now become your virtual coffee breaks.
Beyond Time Zones - Cultural Synergy in a Virtual World:
"67% of remote teams believe cultural diversity positively impacts their overall performance." (Source: Global Remote Work Survey 2023).
When building a global team, it is essential to consider more than just time zones you need to leverage the diverse cultural backgrounds of team members. By cultivating an environment that embraces and celebrates these differences, HR managers can play a pivotal role in not only fostering innovation and creativity but also in creating a truly inclusive and global team.
Digital Leadership - Navigating the Unseen:
Forget what you know about leadership; leadership in a remote setting requires you to use a different approach and focus on your priorities. It is about amplifying communication, providing constant support, and creating a digital open-door policy. HR leaders, this is your opportunity to be the bridge between those in the office and those remote, ensuring that no team members feel adrift.
"42% of remote workers feel disconnected due to a lack of leadership visibility." (Source: Virtual Work Dynamics Report 2023).
Celebrating Wins, Big and Small:
Remote work can feel isolating; therefore, it is important to recognise and celebrate individual and team achievements no matter how seemingly insignificant. Even a simple virtual high-five can go a long way in boosting morale and building camaraderie.
If the last few years have taught us anything it is that not everyone excels in the confines of a 9-5. Embrace asynchronous work models, where tasks are completed on individual schedules, fostering trust and productivity. Consider investing in project management platforms that track progress without micromanagement for bonus points.
As remote work becomes more apparent you must adapt your onboarding process to reflect the changing work environment. This is from how you conduct interviews to how the priority for new hires' first day has changed.
Virtual Interview Techniques:
Now we are not saying that CVs and cover letters are a thing of the past, but in this remote world, a video interview can offer a glimpse into the human behind the words on the page. They allow you to assess communication skills, cultural fit, and that all-important spark that can't be quantified on paper. To further enhance the remote hiring process virtual exercises are a great way to gauge the candidates’ real-world capabilities in a remote work context.
Leveraging Technology:
Utilising technology is essential to making sure that your hiring process is optimised. This would be using technology such as AI-powered sourcing tools and job boards which can be used in the candidate search. As well as this some video interviewing platforms are equipped with recording and scoring features which can aid with the evaluation process. Furthermore, automated systems to provide the candidate with feedback can streamline and keep communication efficient during the hiring process.
Virtual Onboarding:
The first day is no longer focused on the office tour and welcome lunch, it is about creating a seamless virtual onboarding experience. Data shows that 89% of employees decide on their long-term tenure within the first six months (Source: Onboarding Trends Analysis 2023). Therefore, it is important to curate a welcome journey that transcends physical boundaries, making each new hire feel like part of the digital family from day one.
Hybrid Horizons - Embracing the Best of Both Worlds:
The future of work is not entirely remote nor is it entirely office based. It is about striking a balance that caters to individual preferences. Making sure that there is a strategy developed for flexible work schedules that encourages efficient communication between remote and in-office teams is important for bridging the gap between physical and virtual workspaces.
Global Talent Pools - Casting a Wider Net:
"Companies that embrace global talent pools experience a 36% increase in innovation." (Source: Global Talent Acquisition Trends 2023).
In an era where geographical boundaries blur, tapping into diverse skills from around the world is not just an option; it is a strategic imperative.
Long-Term Impacts:
When we look at the long-term impact of remote working, it is clear to see that it has changed how companies and teams operate. It affects how employees develop, get trained, and progress in their careers. Thinking ahead to the future of work, flexibility, inclusivity, and how we find and hire talent are becoming more important.
Now it is over to you! Are you ready to embrace the boundless possibilities of recruiting in a remote world, or will you remain stuck in the past and confined by the walls of your office? The choice is yours.
Our talented team are on hand to guide you in this exciting new transition. Let us help you navigate the global talent pool and build the remote team you've always envisioned. Reach out to Vilde from our dedicated Client Partnerships team who is an expert in the field if you want to learn more about how our team can support you!