How to Align Remote Teams with Brand Goals

Before the pandemic, almost 60% of companies were skeptical about remote work. Employees were allowed to work from home occasionally. But now, most tech leaders are switching to remote work & opting for remote teams with 81% reporting that Covid-19 has changed their perspective on the remote work culture. Remote work has concerns in terms of impaired communication, lack of employee engagement, and lack of direction while demanding strategies should things go south, trust in your team to get the work done. However, businesses could make sure that the remote teams are in alignment with the organization to make things easier at both ends.

Reason to align remote teams with organizational goals is important

Making sure your employees understand and meet the organization’s required goals where the goals are also set to mutually benefit both the company and its employees ensures a reliable working system. This helps the employees work towards the common goal who understands that the businesses goals and successes are not any different from theirs. According to Harvard Business Review, 95% of employees are unaware of their company’s goals and others do not know of ways to achieve their company’s intransigent goals. Most employees felt that their upper management does not clearly clarify the objectives to them. Having said that, businesses still need to communicate their goals to their workforce to make sure everyone is on the same page.

1. Set S.M.A.R.T goals

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Let’s look at each of these aspects individually.

• Specific: You should be particular about the exact result you want your workforce to achieve. For example, XYZ is responsible for bringing $20,000 in sales by the end of the first quarter.
• Measurable: You should be able to monitor whether your employees have reached their goals. There must be some defined metric followed to measure the progress towards the attainment of a goal. For example, Team A will increase traffic to ‘ABCcompany.com’ by 40% by the end of the first quarter.
• Achievable: Before setting a goal it is important to make sure the goal is attainable and is not unreasonable. Past performances of employees must be kept in mind before setting the goals. For example, ABC will secure 10 new clients for Company X by the end of the first quarter. If ABC had secured only 3 clients per quarter, then this goal might not be possible to achieve.
• Relevant: Does the goal align with the company requirements over a given time period? For example, 4 team outings need to be planned for the first quarter. If nurturing company culture is not the need of the hour for the first quarter, then this goal might not be relevant.
• Time-bound: The purpose is to create urgency. A clearly defined time limit, including a starting date and a target date, can be set in order to determine whether the goal has been achieved. For example, the HR team has to hire 25 candidates by the end of the first quarter.

2. Set clear expectations

Remote teams rely on daily task completion, with fewer chances for in-person discussions about the company’s vision. To overcome this, provide clear targets that enable employees to schedule their tasks effectively. This will give them a clear understanding of how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

3. Regular communication with employees

Overcoming remote work challenges, like time zone differences and limited communication, is possible through tech tools. These tools include project management platforms, communication apps, time zone calculators, and more. Encourage team members to engage in casual conversations before scheduled meetings, fostering engagement and productivity.

4. Encourage personal development

Caring about employees’ personal development leads to higher performance, contributing to a healthy work culture and business success. Offer opportunities for upskilling through technical workshops and personal development programs. Encourage employees to build the skills necessary to achieve their goals.

5. Review and adjust your goals

Simply setting goals isn’t enough. Regularly review your plans, track your progress, and adapt based on what works best for your business. Ensure you have the necessary resources and skills to achieve your goals and adjust them when needed.

Final thoughts

As the world has shifted to the remote work culture, it is high time for businesses to align remote teams by setting goals that will give them a clear direction and keep them focused. Ensure that team members understand their value and how their performance directly impacts the company’s success. Communicate clear, achievable goals, encourage personal development, and be ready to adapt when circumstances change.

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