Effective communication is critical to the success of any project, and when working remotely, it becomes even more critical. Although during Covid, more and more companies have already adapted to working remotely, communicating at a distance might still feel challenging. Do you also want to communicate effectively with your remote team? Our most important tips can be found below.
The first step in working with remote developers is to set clear expectations and goals. Make sure that everyone involved understands the requirements, timeline, and deliverables. Provide your developer with a detailed job description, including the desired outcomes and deadlines. This way, the remote developer understands what is expected and the project’s objectives.
Within this process, it is helpful to establish communication protocols. With these protocols, you’ll describe how and when you’ll communicate with each other and who will be responsible for what tasks.
Finally, it is important to have regular check-ins to monitor progress and ensure the project is on track for the duration of the project.
Choose communication tools that are reliable, easy to use, and accessible to everyone involved. Use tools like Skype, Slack, or Zoom for real-time communication and Trello or Asana for project management.
Using these tools lets you keep the communication flowing, resolve issues quickly, and ensure everyone is on the same page.
Although most developers have sufficient English skills and we provide English lessons, make sure that, when you are communicating through these tools, you are clear and concise in your communication. Avoid using slang or colloquialisms.
Since we have worked for Dutch clients for 17 years, we can select developers who can adapt to the Dutch work- and communication style. Diversity, however, does make a company stronger. When you start working with an outsourcing team, try to use this newly gained cultural diversity to your advantage. Developers appreciate it when you show an interest in their personal life. It also helps when you make an effort to understand their culture and work style to foster a more productive and positive working relationship. Understanding differences can allow you to use this diversity to your advantage. To help with this, we wrote an article about the cultural difference between our Ukraine, Bosnia Herzegovina and Portugal offices. Read it here!
Building trust and rapport with your remote developers is essential for effective collaboration. Our Project Management helps to make sure that you provide feedback regularly, both positive and negative, to help your remote developer improve their work.
For day-to-day communication, it does help to take the time to get to know developers as individuals, ask about their interests and hobbies, and show a genuine interest in their work. Encourage open communication, and be responsive to their concerns and questions. Lastly, celebrate successes together and acknowledge when things don’t go as planned. This creates a sense of belonging, leading to a more productive and collaborative environment.
As said above, providing clear and constructive feedback to developers and Project Management is essential for ensuring the project is on track and meeting its goals. When giving feedback, be specific and focus on the task at hand. Avoid criticizing the developer personally, and provide actionable suggestions for improvement.
It is best to see someone face-to-face to get to know each other. That’s why we recommend visiting your team every half year or at least once a year. An onboarding within the office can make a great kick-off for a developer. Not only can you see who you will start working with they will also catch up faster and familiarize themselves with your company and way of working. Besides that, it is also advisable to include your remote workers in events that you have in your office. You can organize an online hack-a-ton, gaming event or escape room. This way, developers will feel like valued members and truly become part of your company.
Working with remote dedicated developers can be a rewarding experience. By setting clear expectations, choosing the right communication tools, understanding cultural differences, building trust and rapport, providing clear feedback and meeting each other in real life, you can create a successful and productive working relationship with your developers.
For more tips, contact us!
