Digital dynamics of a distributed team: The benefits and challenges

by Startacus Admin
Managing a distributed team? Nick Nooren, Head of Proteus Marketplace shares his insights on how tech can be used to enhance the benefits and mitigate the challenges when you're doing just that.
The past year has taught us that companies can maximise the benefits of remote, hybrid and office work if they have the right digital capabilities.
Moving away from the cultural tradition of the physical office to meet the shift brought on by the global pandemic, has required connectivity to be augmented through greater adoption of modern technology.
Navigating the dynamic of a distributed team has not been smooth sailing. Waves of disruption have made engagement and management of the remote office an immense challenge to overcome. As we look at what the office of tomorrow looks like, companies must look at their structures and focus on how benefits are enhanced and challenges mitigated.
Global opportunity with remote work
Arguably, one of the significant benefits of working remotely is the autonomy to manage time in a way that suits. Frequent physical meetings and travelling take away valuable time to concentrate and complete the task ahead.
Additionally, access to the right talent also widens. Offices are no longer confined by locality. Talent attraction broadens from the expertise of professionals across the country and even the globe. For roles that are specialist and need niche experience, the world is your oyster.
We already see many examples where companies reduce office space to have more investment available for their talent, technology and operations. The benefits are significant for employees too.
Keeping teams engaged
The ideal scenario would be to establish remote work policies to support the dispersion of employers and employees. However, for many companies, the pandemic did not afford this luxury.
As we know, communication is paramount. Remaining collaborative without physical interaction can get complicated when the necessary cultural mindset is not in place. Not to mention keeping up conversations when coordinating teams, tracking progress or managing workload. Getting the balance right to block time out for team meetings in calendars is fundamental. And ensuring time during these meetings gets used most effectively.
Brainstorming and creative problem-solving can become stagnant without the benefit of bouncing ideas off one another and gaining inspiration from colleagues in the office. Remote work can be demanding on the individual. Job performance may decline due to the lack of face to face interaction and greater inefficiency challenges depending on home set-ups. Revisiting your technology stack is key to ensuring team collaboration is supported.
Technology solutions
Collaboration channels can both remove creative barriers and schedule virtual coffee chats to mimic the across desk catchups.
Cloud-based work management software can connect distributed teams and offer oversight on progress. Delivering tomorrow's office as a hybrid hub, open to flexibility, will maximise the benefits of remote work and maintain the necessary collaborative human interactions. Other technological capabilities such as AI and machine learning can recognise and take on menial and tedious tasks. Refocusing efforts in the business that need immediate human attention will drive benefits across business operations and efficiencies within teams.
Digital delivering for teams
Remote, hybrid and office work all have their benefits and challenges. We have seen a seismic shift in working cultures, bringing to light a much more flexible approach to the office.
It is fundamental companies look at their operations as we settle into employment in a new working world. An attractive environment without frustrating processes and slow decision making will drive employee retention in the long term.
The global pandemic has dispersed teams yet driven connectivity as companies have had to get creative to manage and engage their teams. Embracing the capability of technology and putting digital at the forefront of strategies will support constant and open two-way communication as we navigate new ways of working.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Nooren is Head of Proteus Marketplace developed by Xergy. Based in the Netherlands after having lived more than 12 years in the Middle East and Asia, Nick has over 25 years’ experience of working with engineering solutions and enjoys the challenge of managing dynamic and cross-cultural businesses.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
How to select your best ideas and take them forward - Chris Thomason, Founder of Ingenious Growth shares 5 tips to help you do just that.

Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies

Want to ensure your startup runs smoothly? Hamid Bagherzadeh, Legal expert and Co-Founder of LegaMart shares insights on the legal contracts that will help you do just that.

Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.

The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.

Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.

The lowdown on London-based hearing wellness startup Mumbli and its mission to help businesses provide inclusive spaces for all hearing abilities and preferences.

Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.

Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.

With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.
Published on: 15th July 2021
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Anamcara launches $10.6M seed fund to back new wave of business tech 30th Mar 2023 Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
- Travel insurtech Koala raises €2m to accelerate its growth 29th Mar 2023 Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
- Tech Nation announces the 10 winners of its latest Rising Stars competition 29th Mar 2023 The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
- Micro Business Alliance launches to represent 75% of the UK’s businesses 28th Mar 2023 Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.