Let’s talk about why managing your sales team remotely needs to be effective and efficient.
Having the option to work from anywhere in the world has become the new norm in some industries and workplaces. And why shouldn’t it be? While working remotely has perks for employees and employers, it’s crucial to understand how to manage the team.
For some, working from home is a breeze, while others find the adjustment to be difficult and distracting. These are Salexo’s top tips for effectively and efficiently remotely managing your sales team.
Stick To Your Daily Work Routine
Elements that make working remotely so appealing can also end up being the most difficult to grapple with. Just because your laptop is at your fingertips doesn’t mean you should stay up till all hours of the night working because you feel like you have to. At first, it can be difficult to set up a routine that sticks at home – even harder to find one you’ll like. Here are a few things you can do that will help when working remotely. These go for both employers and employees.
- Create a dedicated office space and only use it for working
- Take consistent breaks, ideally at the same time each day
- Try to get out of the house at least once a day. Simple things like walking the dog or grabbing a coffee.
Set Up Regular Meetings And Keep Them Consistent
Consistency is a huge determiner of success when working remotely. Regular meetings with your team or manager are a great way to keep lines of communication open. Schedule a meeting either twice a week, weekly or bi-weekly and stick to the schedule. Not only does this give both parties consistency, but it also provides a similar routine to what you would have in the office. Meetings should be held via video chat and, if not, at least with audio. Again, it’s essential to come prepared with what the meeting will entail. Discuss what will be worked on during the week, what is planned for the next and any bumps that could use some assistance.
Set Clear Expectations
When working remotely, those expectations that would usually get communicated loud in the office can get lost. It’s pivotal to your team’s success that clear expectations are created to ensure your end business goal is maintained. KPIs are a great way to give employees the needed expectation. These should be achievable and able to be worked on every day.
Establish A Clear Line Of Communication
Some would say effective communication is an important skill for new hires, but you could argue it’s even more important when working remotely. Emails are all well and good, but they’re usually overly professional and lack the connection employees need. So instead, we recommend using an additional two tools for communication.
- Instant messaging. This can be a tool like Slack or even Google Chat. Use messaging for follow-up questions and when you need clarity.
- A project management tool. Use this for big-picture projects and staying on top of larger tasks.
Right from the beginning, ensure that your team is clear on what channel is for what purpose. This may take a little trial and error, but it will help your team to navigate effectively through the new world of sales. Find out what works for your team through a process of trial and error and experiment with a combination of tools.
Create A Watercooler Chat Room
What’s a watercooler chat room at home, you say? Like you would in an office, you get up to get some water, maybe a coffee, and end up chatting with your colleagues along the way. Working remotely doesn’t allow for this in the traditional sense, but you can create a designated watercooler chat room. It’s specifically for anything other than work—things like the new restaurant that everyone should try or even what’s good on Netflix. Give your team some guidelines and timeframes to use it, but it will be the biggest assistant for them to juggle work-life balance.
Meet Face-To-Face With Everyone Once In A While
Working remotely is great. It gives people the freedom to work how they like. But with that also comes a disconnect – you’re typing or talking to a screen. If applicable, make the time to meet with your team regularly. This could be for a morning coffee every month or a three-monthly team dinner. Evaluate what your team values and enjoys, then go from there.
At The End Of Each Work Day, Shut Off
For employees and employers, shutting off at the end of the day is hard. With your work sitting only a metre away from you, how do you turn off for the night? Consistency is going to do you wonders. Pick a time and stick with it. Even send a message to your team signalling you are signing off, then shut everything down and close that office door.
Final Thoughts
Working remotely and managing a sales team by distance is a tricky balance. It’s all about communicating with intent and ensuring that there is still enjoyment along the way. Salexo is here to be your guide towards creating an efficient sales team. Get in touch with our team today to discover how we can help you.
