The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has initiated a fresh phase of remote work that is leading businesses to embrace adaptable working policies. Statistics say that remote work is here to stay with remote opportunities. This sets the stage for a blend of traditional and remote workspaces within organizations. Consequently, companies must evolve by mastering the art of efficiently managing their onshore and offshore teams. Such adaptation will empower them to elevate organizational productivity and efficiency, which is crucial for increasing profits. In this blog post, we will explore the best practices to manage onshore and offshore teams.
5 Best Ways to Manage Onshore and Offshore Teams
Onshore teams consist of employees managing business processes within the company’s home country, where its headquarters are located. In contrast, offshore teams operate within the same company but are based in a different country. With proper coordination, both onshore and offshore teams may avoid challenges in task execution. Discordance can result in miscommunication, impacting the timely delivery and quality of work. Here, we highlight the best practices for managing onshore and offshore teams:
- Set Clear Rules of Engagement
- Develop a Proper Communication Strategy
- Encourage Openness
- Building a Culture That Celebrates Diversity
- Provide Opportunities for Growth
1- Set Clear Rules of Engagement
Establishing clear guidelines for both your onshore and offshore staff is crucial to ensure they understand how to perform and behave effectively. This includes communicating workflows, deadlines, and setting clear expectations. Regularly updating your team on the project’s progress is essential to maintain momentum, especially when working with staff in different locations. Everyone must comprehend their roles and those of their team members. Creating a shared group calendar where tasks for the day can be indicated facilitates team communication. Regardless of the specific development stage, they’re engaged in, your offshore IT engineers must grasp the ultimate objective, along with the project’s overarching vision and direction, which are:
- Scope of Work (SoW), encompassing milestones, deliverable timelines, priorities, and expected outcomes.
- Providing onshore and offshore development teams with release details and sprint planning aids in understanding and following upcoming tasks.
Read Also: Managing International Remote Teams – Top Tips and Best Practices
2- Develop a Proper Communication Strategy
Managing hybrid teams presents unique challenges, particularly in terms of communication. Establishing a rapport with members operating from various locations can be intricate. However, understanding how to bridge this divide aids in facilitating smoother operations. There exist methods to engage both your on-site and remote teams effectively. One approach involves leveraging technology. For example, conducting regular virtual meetings can nurture team cohesion. Similarly, organizing virtual team-building activities serves to boost morale, foster creativity, and improve communication. Some communication applications that are likely to go beyond include:
- Zoom and Google Meet for video conferencing.
- Slack, WhatsApp, and Skype for direct messaging and voice or video calls.
- Trello and Jira are responsible for tracking and reporting tasks.
3- Encourage Openness
Promoting transparency within the workplace cultivates stronger bonds among team members, ultimately enhancing employee involvement. This promotes faster problem resolution and boosts organizational productivity. One effective strategy is to seek employee feedback actively. For instance, implementing anonymous polls to gather insights on project experiences allows team members to express their views on what works well and needs improvement. This approach cultivates a sense of being heard and valued, motivating employees to strive for excellence and ultimately benefiting the company. Here are some best practices:
- Foster an open environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
- Acknowledge and respect cultural differences within the teams.
- Clearly define project goals, roles, and responsibilities for both onshore and offshore teams.
4- Building a Culture That Celebrates Diversity
When collaborating with offshore development teams, it is natural that you will face cultural differences. The crucial aspect of success lies in managing these disparities to prevent miscommunication and friction among teams. It’s crucial to cultivate a culture that not only acknowledges but also celebrates the diversity within your offshore team. To achieve this, consider implementing cultural awareness initiatives and training programs for your internal and offshore teams. These programs should aim to educate team members about each other’s backgrounds and perspectives. Here are some factors to consider when shaping your company culture:
- Offshore teams should be considered an essential component of the organization rather than external vendors.
- Embrace their presence in celebrations and events alongside local teams to foster understanding and appreciation of their diverse backgrounds.
- Establish transparent communication channels and ensure equal opportunities for all teams to develop and succeed.
Read Also: Technology in Employee Training- How to Do it Right?
5- Provide Opportunities for Growth
Another important consideration is ensuring your employees remain engaged in their professional growth. It’s crucial to recognize that feeling stagnant can often breed discontent, ultimately leading to employee turnover. A solid starting point is to chart a clear development trajectory for your team members. With a defined career path, it’s easier for your staff to stay motivated. Understanding their motivations can empower them to make informed decisions about their career advancement. One effective strategy is to offer access to training programs or certification courses. Conducting regular professional development assessments can help gauge their progress. Here are some practices to foster growth and maximize productivity:
- Schedule regular check-ins with both onshore and offshore teams to review progress, and provide feedback.
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities for onshore and offshore team members.
- Invest in training and development programs for all team members to improve their skills.
To Sum Up
Companies need to stay ahead in this modern tech era. Thus, it’s necessary to consider finding a strong onshore and offshore development team that has experience and sufficient skill to handle tasks. By implementing clear rules of engagement, developing robust communication strategies, fostering openness, celebrating diversity, and providing growth opportunities, organizations can overcome the challenges associated with hybrid teams. With the comprehensive best practices outlined earlier, you are now equipped with the necessary knowledge to efficiently oversee both your onshore and offshore teams.
