{"id":288004,"date":"2022-12-05T16:48:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T16:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.co\/?p=288004"},"modified":"2024-06-18T15:32:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T15:32:21","slug":"distributed-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.co\/distributed-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Distributed Teams: Everything You Need to Know in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last updated on 18th June 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remote work, by its definition, breaks people up and scatters them into different locations. Increasingly, we\u2019re seeing people talk about this term, \u2018distributed teams.<\/strong>\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the way teams work – and their inherent importance to businesses achieving their goals – this is clearly a big concern and an important topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll talk about what distributed teams are, their benefits, drawbacks – and top tips around how you can make this model of work, well\u2026work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are distributed teams?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A distributed team, quite simply, is a team that\u2019s spread out across multiple locations. They might operate in different cities, states, countries and even time zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the difference between \u2018distributed teams\u2019 and \u2018remote teams?\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The term \u2018distributed team\u2019 is often used interchangeably with \u2018remote team.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They do <\/em>essentially mean the same thing – although there\u2019s a slight difference in that \u2018remote\u2019 work implies a central hub that\u2019s used at least occasionally, whereas \u2018distributed teams\u2019 traditionally work separately on a permanent basis and rarely, if ever, come together.<\/p>\n\n\n

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28 Tips for Managing Remote Teams in 2023<\/a><\/div>\n
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Why are distributed teams on the rise?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The obvious answer here is that the pandemic precipitated remote work at a sudden and unprecedented level, and – having tasted the benefits – many employees, and businesses, are reluctant to go back to the way things were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the truth is, distributed teams have been \u2018a thing\u2019 for a little while – certainly before the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are unique benefits to distributed teams that go beyond the temporary ability to remain operational through a lockdown!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of distributed teams?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Global hiring pool<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Distributed teams allow companies to hire the best talent, regardless of location. With a distributed team, you’re not limited to hiring people who live near your office. You can hire whoever you want, as long as they’re able to work remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Productivity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n <\/i>Statistic\n<\/div>\n
\n Distributed teams tend to be more productive than traditional teams – in fact, remote workers are 20% more likely to complete all of their tasks<\/strong> every or most days.\n
\n Source: <\/strong>RescueTime<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Working alone and independently clearly reduces office-based distractions and empowers people to focus on deep work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autonomy and control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remote work<\/a> can make workers feel more independent, and give them freedom to manage their own work in their own way.\u00a0And this creates excitement! <\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Statistic\n<\/div>\n
\n 62% of people feel more excited about their jobs since shifting to remote work.<\/strong>\n
\n Source: <\/strong>Buffer State of Remote Work<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Greater flexibility and adaptability<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With team members in different time zones, distributed teams can often be more responsive to customer needs and demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost savings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Distributed teams often require less physical office space and related overhead costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t always the case, but many distributed teams are more diverse than those working in an office. This is because distributed teams are not limited by geographical boundaries. Diversity isn\u2019t just good for the sake of diversity – it also tends to present diverse approaches to problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the drawbacks of distributed teams?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite these advantages, distributed teams can also pose challenges, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulty building team cohesion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With team members in different locations, some businesses report finding it difficult to build the same sense of camaraderie and trust that is often found in traditional, co-located teams.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Statistic\n<\/div>\n
\n Research suggests that over half of employees feel LESS connected from their co-workers when working remotely.<\/strong>\n
\n Source: <\/strong>Buffer State of Remote Work<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Communication challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It almost goes without saying that distributed teams can encounter issues with communication. Time zone differences, language barriers, and cultural differences can all lead to communication breakdowns if you don\u2019t put in place processes – and software!<\/a> – to avoid this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increased reliance on technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the absence of face-to-face interaction, distributed teams often need to rely heavily on technology for communication and collaboration. This can lead to problems if there are technical issues or internet outages – or if you just don\u2019t set things up properly to deal with potential issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More meetings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the battle to plug the communication gaps, many teams find themselves in more meetings – not always popular among employees, but often necessary to keep everyone on the same page in multiple locations.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Top tips for setting up and running distributed teams<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building a successful distributed team takes time, effort, and commitment. However, by following a few simple tips, you can create an environment where team members are happy, motivated, and connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Define the team’s goals and objectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When building a distributed team, it\u2019s important to be crystal clear about the team’s goals and objectives – and how individuals fit into this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n – What is the team trying to accomplish?\u00a0
– What are the specific roles of each member?\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By having a clear understanding of the team’s goals, you can then create an effective plan for how to best utilise the talents of each member.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Our Insight\n<\/div>\n
\n It also helps develop a sense of mission that keeps people motivated and focused, which is often really important in establishing a feeling of connection in the absence of personal interaction.\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Utilise technology and software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order to overcome the challenges of geographically dispersed team members, it\u2019s critically important to utilise technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of tools that can be used to help distributed teams stay connected and collaborate effectively. Some examples include video conferencing, project management software<\/a>, and online chat platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re biased, of course, but Project.co should be your first port of call. Our tool was built to help teams stay on the same page – wherever in the world they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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