5 Strategies for Remote Teams: Boost Innovation and Reduce Misunderstandings
The term "agile team" has gained momentum and intrigue since its inception in Silicon Valley in 2001. At its core, an agile team is flexible, optimizing resources and skills to gain a competitive edge. Quick decision-making, high productivity, swift feedback loops, and daily meetings are crucial to the agile approach.
Originally, agile teams were conceived to function in a co-located environment. The Agile Software Development Manifesto asserts that face-to-face communication is the most effective way to disseminate information within a development team, helping to prevent misunderstandings and minimize documentation overhead.
However, the agile methodology is not confined to physical proximity. In fact, remote and distributed teams have successfully implemented agile practices, demonstrating the versatility of the agile approach. Not only can agile teams function remotely, but in some instances, they even exceed the performance of co-located teams by leveraging certain agile principles.
Tsedal Neeley, author of Remote Work Revolution: Succeeding from Anywhere identified five best practices to promote productive collaboration in a virtual setting:
Solo preparation, collective synchronization
Adapting agile to a remote environment involves a blend of independent tasks and real-time collaborative work. Preparing individually for previously spontaneous discussions is crucial to maintaining efficient meetings. Solicit pre-meeting input on shared platforms to streamline group brainstorming, and use asynchronous communication tools to facilitate idea exchange before meetings. This approach allows immediate focus on assessing ideas or addressing issues during the meeting.
Utilize shared documents for brainstorming
Shared documents, like Google Docs, are powerful tools for ongoing collaboration without the constraints of traditional work hours. Team members can contribute ideas, comments, or suggestions whenever inspiration strikes, fostering a closer alignment with the agile ideal. This method also simplifies decision-making, as team members have the opportunity to review and comment on ideas before meeting discussions.
Optimize virtual stand-ups
The daily stand-up meeting is a cornerstone of agile teams. In a virtual setting, it’s necessary to establish new norms to prevent over-talking and miscommunication. Allocate dedicated speaking time to each team member, use virtual whiteboards and screen-sharing tools for clarity, and consider reducing the number of participants for more focused communication. Virtual meetings can offer improved efficiency compared to in-person stand-ups, particularly in larger teams.
Establish digital communication norms
Define clear protocols for various communication platforms. For instance, use email for formal, non-urgent requests, and reserve instant messaging for informal, urgent matters. Phone calls can replace quick cubicle check-ins. Managers should also set boundaries for communication times to ensure work-life balance.
Encourage anonymous feedback
Honesty, trust, and candid communication are key to agile collaboration. This is often facilitated through retrospective reviews at the end of each sprint. In a remote setting, digital tools can help gather real-time, anonymous feedback during virtual meetings. This method encourages open communication and helps the team learn from mistakes without fear of repercussions.
In conclusion, remote work does not diminish the effectiveness of agile teams. On the contrary, with the right strategies and tools, remote agile teams can enhance innovation and reduce misunderstandings, making them a viable and even preferable alternative to co-located teams.
