Best practices for a happy and high-performing dispersed team

✅ Do keep lines of communication wide open.

Despite distance, your team should feel comfortable to approach you at any time they need support. Use email, video calls, messenger tools, 121s and regular team catch-ups to keep everyone in the loop and feeling connected.

❌ Don’t hover over their shoulders.

Micromanaging is the quickest way to make your employees feel negatively about their work. Trust your team to get the job done and give them the autonomy they deserve – you hired them for a reason!

✅ Do make time for personal check-ins.

Schedule regular 121 chats with each of your team members to give them space to speak informally about things that may not come up in regular team meetings. 121s are an opportunity to catch up on work stuff, but also ask how they’re doing outside of work and build a personal connection.

Interestingly, Gallup research found that when managers provide weekly (vs. annual) feedback, team members are much more motivated and engaged to do outstanding work.

❌ Don’t be a no-show.

It may seem obvious, but cancelling on your team members repeatedly can have negative effects on team mindset and momentum. Your attendance to group and individual meetings should be regular to check in, share updates, and keep energy going.

✅ Do keep track of team wellbeing.

Maintaining employee wellbeing isn’t by any means a new challenge, but the way in which you support your employees has become more challenging in today’s remote and dispersed working environments. Keep track of team health by adopting pulse surveys and employee wellbeing apps.

❌ Don’t overlook burnout.

The truth is, if your organisation isn’t making employee wellbeing a priority then that is a significant detriment to your organisation. 77% of employees have experienced burnout in their current job. Simply, people need support at work, and it is an organisation’s duty to provide it – especially is a dispersed environment.

✅ Do make flexibility a top priority.

For a dispersed team, flexibility is a no-brainer. Learn to trust your employees and let them work when and how they work best. As long as expectations are outlined clearly, your employees are adults that are more than capable to manage their workloads and deadlines. So give them the freedom to balance work and personal life.

❌ Don’t ignore work-life balance.

Round-the-clock availability from your team is just unrealistic and unhealthy – in fact, in some countries it is now illegal to contact employees outside of work hours. Always encourage your team to unplug and recharge.

✅ Do equip your team with the right tools.

Ensuring your dispersed team has access to the best technology and training is super important for achieving ideal performance and guarding your team from hitting unnecessary roadblocks. By investing in robust tools and training, you will significantly help with productivity and motivation.

❌ Don’t forget about continuous learning.

Many employees find great satisfaction in evolving their skills and talents. Keep your team’s skills sharp with regular training and development opportunities.

✅ Do celebrate all the wins!

Did you know 69% of employees would work harder if they felt their efforts were better appreciated? Without face-to-face interactions, acknowledgment becomes crucial for remote and dispersed workers to feel valued and motivated. Ensure you have a recognition program embedded in your culture that is inclusive for all your staff – near and far.

❌ Don’t ignore the small stuff.

Don’t let little victories go unnoticed! Every win, big or small, deserves recognition. Stribe’s shout-outs make it simple for you and your colleagues to give those little messages of appreciation that mean so much.

✅ Do make feedback your friend.

At the end of the day, every dispersed team is different and general advice can only do so much! To have a happy, high-performing and engaged organisation, you need to ask your team for feedback regularly using surveys, actually listen to what they have to say, and make changes!

❌ Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism.

Many organisations fear that feedback will leave them open to criticism – you simply have to be okay with that! Accept that you won’t ever be able to make every individual happy, but you CAN listen to the collective voice of your team and encourage them to share their ideas to make work a better place. It’s the only way to grow and improve together.

At Stribe we’re all about bringing teams together, whether they’re in the same building or on different continents. Would you like to chat?

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