How to Effectively Build and Manage Your MSME’s Remote Teams?

Thinking about building remote teams? Good!

Since 2020, remote work has tripled in growth…

A lot of companies (56%) let their employees work from anywhere, and some (16%) are even fully remote. But 44% still don’t allow it at all.

With such a shift, remote work is clearly becoming the way many businesses operate today. It helps you stay ahead, save costs, and scale your business faster.

But building a remote team needs proper planning, or you’ll end up chasing employees’ productivity and results instead of focusing on growth. 

This article is all about helping you understand remote teams –  what they are, how they can help you, how to set them up right, and how to tackle any bumps along the way. 

Let’s make remote work work for you!

What Exactly Is a Remote Team?

A remote team simply means your team working together, for the same goal, but from different places. They could be in different cities, states, or even countries! They use the internet, apps, and tools to connect and work as a team. 

There are different ways to set up remote teams, and it’s important to plan what suits your business best.

1. Freelancers – 

These are the experts you hire for specific projects. No need to hire full-time.

2. Gig Work – 

These people work on small, quick tasks and tasks that come and go, often through online platforms. These are easy to hire and easy to stop. 

3. Work From Home (WFH) – 

Your employees mostly work from their homes for you. It saves office rent, but you’ll need clear rules and good tech support.

4. Hybrid – 

In this model, employees work some days in the office and some days at home. Good for teamwork and flexibility, but you’ll still need office space and online tools to manage the team.

5. Remote Friendly – 

Mostly in the office, but employees are allowed to work from home sometimes. This offers little flexibility to the employee in emergencies.

6. Fully Remote – 

Everyone works from anywhere. A physical office is not needed at all. This saves a lot on office costs. But you’ll need strong systems and a good online work culture.

A strong work culture drives business success, and the right guidance can show you how to build it.

Benefits of Having a Remote Team for MSME Businesses

So, why should your MSME consider building a remote team? What’s in it for your business? 

Let’s understand the benefits of a remote team and why it’s a good option for your business. 

• Reduces operational costs significantly

You spend less on office rent, electricity, supplies, and travel. With less money spent on overheads, you can invest more in things like making your products or services even better or getting the word out to more customers. 

Do you know? “Dell saved approx Rs. 100.2 crore annually and up to 50% operational cost savings.”

• Access to a wider, global talent pool

You can hire skilled people from across India or across the globe. This is super appealing and helps your business stay strong and ready for any challenge.

• Boosts flexibility and overall productivity

Remote teams often get more done and are more creative. They say in remote work. They focus better, have fewer interruptions, and are happy to put in the extra effort. That means better results for your business.

The report says companies saw 71% more innovation, and 83% said their work culture improved after the remote model.

• Enhances employee satisfaction and retention

The remote work model boosts employee morale, reduces sick days, and improves employee satisfaction. This means they’re more likely to stay with you longer, which leads to higher retention rates.

• Ensures business continuity and reduces risks

Since your team isn’t tied to one office, local issues or a natural disaster won’t stop your work. Your remote team ensures that operations can continue uninterrupted. This makes your business tougher and more reliable.

How to Build a Remote Team for Your Business?

Running a remote team is a great way to grow your business. But you need to plan it well. I’m here to walk you through how to do it. Here’s your step-by-step plan – 

Step 1 – Hiring Remote Employees

Hiring for remote jobs means you don’t need to look only in your city. Go wider. Use websites made for remote work. Also, ask your team to refer people. 

For some people, money isn’t everything in the job, so show your potential hires about your vision, your exciting work, your team culture, and how you support your team. 

Also, don’t get stuck on finding the “perfect” fit. Hire people who have the basics and have the ability to grow with you.

Step 2 – Look for the Right Skills

Not everyone is good at remote work. When hiring remotely, you need specific traits and skills. Look for people who are great at – 

• Communicating clearly
• Managing their time well
• Adapting to new things
• Using technology
• And, if possible, have worked remotely before.

Step 3 – How to Interview Remotely

You may not meet them in person, so make your online interviews feel personal. Do the following things to make them feel comfortable – 

• Share your expectations – work hours, meetings, time zones.
• Try 2–3 rounds instead of one.
• Ask practical questions: “How do you stay organized working from home?”
• Have team members join in so new hires can get a feel for the culture

Step 4 – Smooth Onboarding of New Remote Employees and Keep Supporting Them

Here’s how to onboard new employees smoothly – 

• Send a welcome kit before their first day
• Do a proper HR intro, even virtually. Give them login details for email and tools in advance.
• Plan a 30-60-90 day roadmap –  What should they do in months 1, 2, and 3?
• Start with a friendly welcome call. Then do regular weekly check-ins.
•  Introduce them to everyone they’ll be working with, maybe through a fun video call.
• Make sure someone older in the team helps them as a “buddy” or mentor to settle in.
• Add them to Slack and email groups, and share company culture and values.
• Start with smaller tasks to build their confidence.
• Ask them for feedback on onboarding. It helps you improve, too.

Step 5 – Stay Legally Safe

If your remote employee is in another state or country, the rules will change because remote hiring has different rules depending on where your team is located. Use HR software to help you keep track of local labour laws, taxes, etc.

How to Make Sure Work Is Getting Done Effectively?

Effective remote team management is about strategy, communication and trust. 

To make sure the productivity and accountability of your remote team are good, solid performance management for remote workers is important. 

Here’s how to do it: 

• Set Clear Goals & Expectations –
  • Define Roles & Tasks –  What work needs to be done, by whom, and by when. Make it super clear.
  • Set Deadlines –  When does it need to be done? Be specific.
  • How to Talk –  Set simple rules on how your team should communicate (email, chat, calls) and how quickly they should reply
  • Have a Plan –  A simple “work-from-home policy” helps everyone stay on the same page.

• Talk More, Not Less –
  • Over-Communicate –  Don’t hesitate to share more information.
  • Use Video Calls –  Seeing faces helps a lot since you can’t read body language.
  • Use the Right Tools –  Have a good chat system and messaging apps for quick talks, like Slack, and project tools, like Asana, to keep everyone updated.
  • Regular Check-ins –  Have regular team meetings and one-on-ones so the team keeps things on track.

• Build a Strong Team –
  • Encourage Chats –  Remote work can sometimes feel isolating. Create spaces for casual talks, not just work discussions.
  • Use Collaboration Tools –  Tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, or ClickUp let everyone work on documents or projects together.
  • Virtual Team Fun –  Organise online coffee breaks and quick check-ins just to chat. It builds connections.

• Trust Your Team and Let Them Work Freely –
  • Focus on Results –  Instead of how many hours they’re logged in, focus on what they achieve. Trust your team to handle their work.
  • Provide support & Share Your Future Plans – Encourage sharing of ideas, tips, and helpful resources, and tell your team about business plans, wins, and challenges.
  • Remove their problems – Be kind and listen to their challenges, and offer help. Empower them to own their work.

• Handle Different Time Zones (If Applicable) –
  • Meeting Times –  Pick meeting times that suit all team members. Use scheduling tools to make it easy.
  • Set clear deadlines –  Sometimes, different time zones are an advantage. While one person sleeps, another can pick up the work. Just make sure expectations for replies and deadlines are clear.

Common Challenges and Solutions in Managing a Remote Team

While the benefits of a remote team are outstanding, managing a virtual team comes with its own set of challenges. 

Communication Gaps

Without face-to-face talks, things can easily get lost in translation, messages can get lost, and misunderstandings can pop up.

What you can do – 

• Use video calls, chat apps, and tools for tasks.
• Set clear rules on how and when to communicate.
• Make sure your team speaks up if something’s unclear.
• Schedule simple training on better writing and listening.

Team Feeling Left Out

Your remote team members might feel disconnected or out of the loop, which can hurt their motivation and lead to low energy or quitting.

What you can do – 

• Make sure everyone understands the company goals and their role.
• Schedule fun online hangouts, online games, or coffee breaks.
• Ask how they’re doing, not just about work.
• Celebrate wins, big or small, to build team spirit.

Tech Troubles

 “My internet is down!” or “This software isn’t working!”. This tech issue can really slow down work.

What you can do – 

• Invest in good software and give them the proper laptops, headsets, or other tools. Help with setup and passwords.
• Make sure IT support is readily available.
• Teach your team about online safety, avoiding risky wifi, and ensuring secure access.

Work-Life Balance Blurs

When your home is your office, switching off is tough, and people often work too much. This can lead to burnout.

What you can do – 

• Push for self-care breaks, hobbies, and downtime.
• Set and respect work limits, and keep an eye on how your team is feeling.

Building Company Culture Remotely

It’s hard to make everyone feel like part of the “family” without meeting in person and without a shared office space.

What you can do – 

• Be super clear about what your company stands for.
• Integrate and talk about values from day one.
• Share company news, updates, and developments regularly so all feel connected.

Final Thoughts

Let’s wrap this up! 

Remote work is here to stay. It’s a huge opportunity to boost your profits, save costs, find exceptional talent anywhere, and make a flexible and strong remote team.

MSMEs that make remote work part of their core plan will stand firm and grow faster in the digital age.

You’ve learned how to manage your team remotely. Now, discover more ways to streamline your processes and boost efficiency. Read more articles like this here.