Ensuring Project Quality with a Fully Remote Team
By now, many of us have nailed the ins and outs of communicating and collaborating with an entirely remote team. Out of pure necessity many organizations have adapted old processes and ways of working in a short period of time. We’ve moved from “this is temporary” to accepting that portions of, if not all, remote work will be permanent. Turning an eye to the future, this raises questions about ensuring the quality of projects in the long-term. While teams tend to be more productive working from home, this often creates a path to burnout. We need sustainable, useful procedures in place to ensure that both our projects and teams thrive now and in the future. There are three areas to consider:
1) Set Expectations
While quality doesn’t have to be affected by remote work, certain deliverables and timelines may look different. It’s important that both stakeholders and project teams understand where the goal posts are, and what constraints will affect outcomes. The ideal time to set these expectations is at the beginning of a project. However, if this step is missed, there’s no time like the present to start discussions and get everyone on the same page. Identify where the discrepancies are between the team, stakeholders and managers and work together to find solutions. Open, transparent communication is key for all parts of remote work, especially when the table stakes are being set.
2) Document, Document, Document
Experienced project managers know the value of clear documentation, but even the most knowledgeable of us may have let certain areas slide in the past. When you’re working together in the same location, it’s easy to stop by someone’s desk for a quick update. While you can certainly do this through video calls and messaging tools, aspects of nonverbal communication are likely being lost. It’s difficult to tell how someone you’re giving direction to has interpreted information through a computer screen. To keep the team accountable and ensure there aren’t misunderstandings, document all updates, delays, progress reports, milestones and internal team brainstorms. If a project is going off track, you’ll need these threads to sort through and find where the disconnect is happening.
3) Build a Cross-Functional Team
Whether in person or remote, a strong project manager empowers their team to operate autonomously and independently. Without the ability to physically check in on a whim, this piece becomes foundational – a project is not going to succeed with a micro-managing leader who spends all of their time monitoring the team. Team members need to understand all facets of the project so they can step in and provide needed support, with little direction. As project manager, keep an eye out for helpful training opportunities that are targeted at individual team members.
If you need support in defining what quality looks like for your team in the new era of work, we’re here to help. Reach out to us for more information on how we can help you create a cohesive, cross-functional team focused on results and collaboration.