{"id":953,"date":"2020-04-06T10:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T09:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.attendancebot.com\/blog\/?p=953"},"modified":"2023-03-10T05:52:18","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T10:52:18","slug":"manage-remote-employees-microsoft-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.attendancebot.com\/blog\/manage-remote-employees-microsoft-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Manage Your Remote Employees over Microsoft Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus outbreak has taken our workspace remote. When setting up your remote team, you’ll need a communication platform to help you connect, collaborate and manage your remote employees. Microsoft Teams is a favorite across the globe, allowing teams of any size to turn the platform into their dedicated workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing a distributed workforce is hard. Missed conversations, constant back-and-forth, and difficulty in collaboration\u2014 these are some of the challenges many teams are facing now as they go remote. However, you can set up Microsoft Teams in a way that ensures better communication, increase efficiency, and avoid problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re still figuring out how to work from home, our extensive guide to remote work<\/a> will surely help you through it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are 10 ways to manage your remote employees better on Microsoft Teams<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting Up Your Workspace on Microsoft Teams to Better Manage Your Remote Employees<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Your first priority when setting up Microsoft Teams is to ensure that it is set up for your team. Here are 6 steps you need to take to set up your workspace on Microsoft Teams and ensure your team has a space to connect, collaborate, and work:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Create separate teams and channels to organize conversations<\/span><\/h2>\n

On this platform, a team is the larger group\u2014 either a specific department or the whole organization. A team is made up of channels where you can have conversations with your fellow teammates. Each channel may be created for a specific department, topic, or project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some organizations set up their Microsoft Teams with one team and the channels acting as departments and projects. Others\u2014 mostly medium-to-large-sized businesses\u2014 create multiple teams, each one for a specific department, and add channels for smaller groups within their department or for project-based collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can choose how you want to set up your team based on the size of your organization. Once set up add your teammates and use a \u2018General\u2019 channel to onboard and let them know how things are structured within this virtual workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Set up a \u2018Wiki\u2019 to add guidelines and processes in place<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since everyone is working from home, it\u2019s harder to set rules and ensure work etiquette is followed. Set up a team wiki within Microsoft Teams, letting your team know the dos and don\u2019ts of working remotely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, on the \u2018General\u2019 channel, you can list down employee guidelines and other need-to-know information for the entire team. Each channel can use the wiki tab to add guidelines relevant to the department or project they are working on. You can define the general process for that channel, ensuring everyone is aware of how work is approved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With Wiki inbuilt, your team doesn\u2019t have to search for specific guidelines or processes for their work. Instead, they can find it right within their virtual workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Use Notes for collaboration and task management<\/span><\/h2>\n

OneNote is built into Microsoft Teams and shows up as a tab named \u2018Notes\u2019 within your channels. This feature simplifies the way your team collaborates with others.<\/span><\/p>\n

OneNote allows you to collaborate quickly, with its different features simplifying your work. It allows you to draw, sketch, highlight notes, and work on the same note with a fellow teammate. You can also use Notes to view and manage tasks that everyone within that team has on their plate without switching to a separate window for their task list.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike Wiki, the \u2018Notes\u2019 tab is meant for more informal work\u2014 to collaborate, list tasks, and take quick notes. You can even use Notes to park ideas for later.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Add \u2018Tabs\u2019 for frequently used apps<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are specific apps that are available right within Microsoft Teams. You can enable and add these apps as tabs within your channels. This is especially helpful if there are specific apps you use on a daily basis\u2014 like Trello or SurveyMonkey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set up frequently used apps within your channels so that your team doesn\u2019t have to switch to another window every time they need to access it. By streamlining your work within Microsoft Teams, you can ensure that your remote employees don\u2019t need to leave the virtual workspace to get stuff done.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Set up time tracking plug-ins like AttendanceBot<\/span><\/h2>\n

One problem that many remote teams face is the inability to track employee time. Without your traditional methods of time tracking, like biometric scanners and manual attendance records, you need to find a virtual attendance system for employee monitoring. AttendanceBot<\/a> is your one-stop Microsoft Teams employee tracking solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

The application allows you to automate time tracking right within Microsoft Teams. Employees just need to check-in and out of work during the start and end of their workday. AttendanceBot records this in the backend and generates timesheets for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The application also manages leave approvals, taking such conversations out of your inbox. Employees just need to send a message to the bot asking for leave for a specific number of days. The approval request is sent to the employee\u2019s manager. Once approved, the bot sends a notification to employees, informing them about this leave approval. It also records the leave in the backend, simplifying how employees can take leaves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set up AttendanceBot within Microsoft Teams to easily manage your employees\u2019 work hours and keep them accountable.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you still aren’t convinced here is a <\/span>Guide to Using AttendanceBot for Remote Working Teams<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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6. Centralize your files with Sharepoint<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your files need to be organized in one space. When working remotely, file management is crucial to ensure you can work quicker and better. Set up Sharepoint to keep your files centralized and easy to access. The platform integrates with Microsoft Teams, functioning as a file management and sharing platform for your team.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With Sharepoint, you can share files and resources with anyone in the team. The platform looks like a hub of files and you can organize it into headings to simplify your team’s search for specific files. You can share files on channels, making it easier for employees to discuss their work and provide feedback without leaving their workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Provide guidelines for better communication<\/span><\/h2>\n

It may seem pointless to tell your team how to communicate on your Teams workspace but by setting down your guidelines, you can ensure everyone\u2019s on the same page and avoid miscommunication. Here are a few guidelines you need to keep in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n