How to effectively manage geographically dispersed teams

Managing a team of employees is more complex than it seems. But when you're managing a geographically dispersed team, things get much more complicated.

When there is physical distance between you, your team members, and whatever space in your home, the simple things suddenly become much more difficult. Communicating isn't as simple as walking to your colleague's desk or cubicle and forgetting about a team meeting on short notice. When you're a geographically dispersed team, you can't track your employees' productivity in the same way as if you were in the same building.

You need to find inventive ways to overcome the physical distance between you and your employees. Fortunately, there are tools and tips you can use to effectively manage your geographically dispersed team, and we're sharing them today.

Let's get started.

What is a geographically dispersed team?

A geographically dispersed team is a group of people working together from different locations. Typically, they rely on technology to communicate and collaborate. With the rise of remote working, virtual teams, and hybrid workplaces, we are seeing more and more geographically dispersed teams. But it's not just for teams working remotely.

In some cases, geographically dispersed teams have never had a home office. Instead, they are individuals working in different places all the time. For example, a landscaping company may have an office, but the majority of its workforce would be on job sites during its working hours.

Here are some of the most common businesses that rely on on-site or field employees:

Landscapers Construction workers Cleaning services Pool maintenance Catering companies Mobile Personal Trainers General contractors Electricians HVAC repairs Tutoring companies roof Plumbing pest control Meal delivery services Moving companies

Let's describe how you can effectively manage your geographically dispersed team.

Why is time tracking important for geographically dispersed teams?

Many small business owners are beginning to realize the power of saving money through time tracking. Any business can benefit from tracking employee time, but businesses that rely on hourly workers should all use a time tracking tool.

And when your team doesn't have a central location and is instead spread across multiple sites, time tracking becomes even more critical. Finding a solution that allows your team to clock in and out without being tied to a physical location is key to successful time tracking for dispersed teams.

Did you know? A recent Deloitte study found that over 30% of workers say that manual entry hours is one of the most time-consuming processes they have. But with the power of automated time tracking, you can improve your productivity and recoup over $666,400 in annual salary.

Let's break down why a digital time tracking app is essential for geographically dispersed teams.

Allow your team to clock in on their smartphones or computers remotely

When your team members travel to different locations every week, every day, or for a few hours, they need to be able to clock in and out from a distance. Having an old fashioned punch-in and out machine on your site doesn't work when you no have a centralized location...