How to Avoid the Most Common Remote Team Training Mistakes
There was a time when remote work was considered a luxury or a privilege. Today, it is a necessity, and more and more companies are joining the world of remote work. This change of direction comes with great benefits for both employees and employers, but for it to be successful, there needs to be training involved.
Your training strategy will make or break your team’s effectiveness and the overall remote work scheme. It’s natural to make mistakes since this type of work is relatively new to many companies. However, there are some common remote team training pitfalls you should stay away from:
Unclear Goals and Expectations
One of the most critical elements of training is setting clear goals and expectations. Not having them can harm employee engagement, not just during training but also once your employees start taking on responsibilities.
Make sure to document your expectations and communicate them clearly. Have a Q&A session with your team before starting training to ensure there are no doubts and schedule one-on-one video call sessions to talk about personal development goals every couple of weeks to help them stay on track.
Neglecting the Importance of Constant Communication
Because of their nature, remote teams don’t get near as much interaction as on-site teams do, which puts a challenge on communication. As a leader, establishing an on-going and open connection with your remote teams should be at the top of your priority list. Enable simple communication channels for training purposes. Leveraging the power of video conferencing will make training much more manageable, promoting collaboration and team spirit.
Be sure to make yourself available via direct messaging, calling, or emailing for any questions they might have, even after training sessions are over. It will make your employees feel more comfortable and help develop a trust-based relationship.
Not Implementing a Feedback Culture
Feedback is an essential part of the training. Not allowing your employees to express themselves and share their opinions will make them feel undervalued. Remind your team of the importance of feedback and let them know their input is incredibly valuable and needed for growth.
Ignoring the Need for Ongoing Training
Thinking of training as something you do once and then forget about can be a detrimental approach. On-going training is critical for continuous improvement, especially when it comes to remote teams. Setting up recurring meetings to go over topics that require more attention will help establish a growing relationship with your team.
Ignoring Your Company Culture
Feeling socially and emotionally connected to their company helps increase employee engagement. If you’re not giving your company culture the focus it deserves, your team’s relationship with your company is likely to be weak. Sharing your company’s vision, mission, and core values are essential, especially when training new employees. Explaining how their job supports the company’s goals will make them feel part of something bigger, increase their motivation, and make them more productive.
