Project management isn’t easy even under the best of circumstances. Team leaders find themselves dealing with everything from shifting deadlines to sparring co-workers. Now, many project managers find themselves charged with an added challenge: managing the distributed team. And while using tech to communicate can increase team diversity and reduce costs, it also creates challenges, from cultural differences to organization-related snags. Here are tips for project managers using teleconferences, web conferences, and other platforms to connect:

• Establish a collaboration framework. Get the maximum out of online collaboration by providing guidelines for the team. For example, consider setting rules regarding how to participate during conference calls or web conferences as well as expectations regarding employees staying on task. It might sound a bit elementary school-ish, but these ground rules will reduce drama and keep everyone focused on tasks and goals.
• Work on the workload. Duplicate work is bound to sink efficiency when you’re collaborating online. Outline each team member’s responsibility to minimize duplication. Savvy project managers will also try to break up big jobs into smaller, more attainable tasks.
• Respect time zone differences. Just because teleconferences and web conferences can take place 24/7/365 doesn’t mean they should. Each employee has a life outside of the office. Respect that work/life balance by scheduling conference calls or web conferences so that no single employee is always stuck in a meeting at 8 p.m. their time.
• Pick the right tech for the situation. Not every meeting requires a full-on web conference. For example, meetings designed to “touch base” with others may need a simple teleconference to get the job done. Whichever tech platform you use to communicate, make sure each employee is comfortable using it and knows how to get support if a glitch occurs.
• Make communication fast and simple. One key to building a get-it-done distributed team is to use no-brainer communication channels. Choosing easy-to-use platforms will allow distributed team members to create an efficient workflow that seamlessly shares the right information with the right people.

Project management can be a challenge, especially when working with a distributed team. And while they can’t do a thing about those team members who fight like reality show stars, the right tools, like teleconferences and web conferences, will make your job easier and your team’s workflow more efficient. Contact RollCall Business Conferencing to learn more about our suite of tools that give project managers the power to communicate securely, reliably, and affordably.