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Thinking about starting a software development project? Or are you in the middle of one? Whatever stage your project is in, working with remote developers is almost unavoidable these days. They tend to be cheaper and overall, better for business.
But for all the advantages, managing remote developers can be very hard. After all, working with people in the same room can be difficult, much less with people miles away from you. Yet, there are ways to avoid this stubborn challenge.
Based on years of experience working as a remote developer and conversations with other coders, here are tips to help you work with a remote development team and produce quality results.
Having an idea you are certain of its success can be exciting. But before you start hiring remote developers to help you bring it to life, make sure you have a clear picture of what it is and how you want to execute it. Think it through before contacting a hiring agency.
When you know the What and the How of your idea, you can accurately communicate it to a remote development team. It helps you avoid disappointments and frustrations when the developer(s) inevitably fail to build ‘what you had in mind.’ There is also the added fact you will be wasting money.
Additionally, developers are not a monolith. Everyone has their specializations. Having a clear game plan will ensure you hire the right developers for each aspect of the project. Expecting one or two developers to build every part of your idea is essentially a recipe for disaster.
So, take your time, do your research on the exact needs of the project. By doing this, you put yourself in a better position to manage the remote developers working with you.
According to a survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit, executives of multinational companies believe multicultural teams help drive innovation. They also have a better grasp of global trends and are less likely to suffer from groupthink.
This is a quality worth tapping into. However, you mustn’t overlook cultural and language barriers when you are hiring remote developers. Communication is an important weapon when managing remote developers, and it is only effective when the people you work with understand and can relate with you.
Thankfully, English is the most spoken language in the world, so there is less to worry about language-wise. Culturally, banter and similar non-work interests help build rapport between team members and boosts productivity.
Find and promote interests that will improve engagement between your remote developers and blur the lines between their backgrounds. This can be anything, but it has to be relaxing, entertaining, and definitely not work-related.
It may seem silly that you are paying people not to work. But trust me when I say the reward is better than any productivity seminar you organize.
There is no use in having a remote development team with diverse members if you won’t consider their suggestions and ideas. As a matter of fact, if you hire right, your team most likely consists of developers who have worked on multiple projects and are experts in their field.
They have seen their fair share of failures and successes and know what was responsible for every outcome. Refusing to listen to them will be doing yourself and project a disservice, not to speak of underusing their knowledge, skill, and talent.
Not every one of them will offer their thoughts unprompted. Nevertheless, you can ask questions yourself, such as -
Questions like these will ensure you get the full breadth of the expertise you are paying for. What’s more, it will make your remote developers feel like they are truly part of your team. It will prevent the growth of an Us vs Them mentality against your HQ team, which can be a huge productivity dampener.
Multiple surveys and studies, including this one by FlexJobs, show that remote workers are more productive working from home. That includes programmers, who generally tend to be independent and self-sustaining people.
It means they prefer working on their own time instead of a fixed work schedule. This flies against the instinct of anyone raised within a traditional work setting. But if you are going to successfully manage a remote development team, you need to be prepared to be flexible with the work hours.
This is especially necessary if they are in another time zone. Forcing remote developers to work according to your HQ’s work time will most likely lead to resentment and produce shoddy work.
Besides avoiding disgruntled employees, time zone flexibility can also improve the efficiency of your company. When a team goes to bed in one time zone, another resumes in another time zone. This guarantees round-the-clock productivity for your business, something few businesses can boast of.
Flexibility in approach also extends to timelines, payment, and product functionality. If it won’t affect the overall quality of the final product, there is no reason to be a hardass about it.
Just because the employees on your team are spread around the globe is no reason for your company to lack operational cohesiveness. But how do you manage this when they are in different time zones? Well, not all time zones have large differences and it doesn’t have to be for work.
Instead of making sure all your developers are working at the same time, use overlapping uptime to maintain communication. For example, if there is a two-hour difference between you and your remote team, you have five hours when working hours overlap. Use this period to organize virtual meetings and discussions.
In cases when the difference is too large to overlap, like New York/India, daily written reports can be a useful alternative. You can also set up emergency communication channels that let both parties reach each other when necessary.
Take it from a veteran freelance programmer, one of the most useful tips for remote developers management is consistent appreciation. Just because the developers aren’t sharing an office with you, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve or need regular appreciation. This is something too many founders and project managers forget.
If you want the best result from working with remote developers, you need to treat them like they are your permanent employees. That means offering encouragement and saying thank you as much as possible for completed tasks or unexpected accommodations.
Bonuses and gifts are also great ways to show appreciation. Hell, something as simple as giving them time off and checking on their wellbeing goes a long way in improving the relationship between you and the remote development team.
This may seem too much for people you are not seeing face to face. However, it is important to remember that people are at their best when they feel appreciated.
Speaking of building a relationship with your remote developers, it is important to have lots of face-time hours. Text-based interactions are not as effective at team building as video interaction. With video, you can determine the developer’s emotional status and connect on a personal level.
When you are in touch with their emotional state and successfully establish a rapport, you are better equipped at navigating team challenges.
Video chats don't have to be every day and don't always have to involve you. You can pair random employees to take breaks and hang out weekly. There are multiple tools that are great at this. They include Donut, a slack plug-in, Skype, Appear.in, Zoom, and several others.
Furthermore, if you can afford it, travel to their location and spend physical time together. This is especially useful if the developers are congregated in one location. You may think it defeats the whole point of being remote. But the occasional trip creates a deeper connection than anything you might achieve via online chat.
If you are looking for the most effective way of managing remote developers, it is doing as little managing as possible. We know this can be difficult, especially for managers who have a background as developers. Yet, it is in your best interest to do it.
Programmers love to figure things out on their own, and their expertise grows the more they learn from mistakes. Micromanaging takes this sense of creativity and innovation away from them. It reduces developers to robots who only do what they are told to do.
This creates discontent among the team and members might feel undervalued and creatively stifled. It also keeps you from maximizing your investment in the developers’ expertise. On top of that, you waste a lot of time and effort working on stuff you are paying the developers to do. Time you could spend on other aspects of the business.
Of course, that’s not to say you should leave developers without direction. The goal here is to find a balance between your vision and their problem-solving process.
We understand that no one wants a Facebook situation on their hands. No one wants to see their proprietary code/data and algorithms stolen to create what ends up being the next big thing. That is why Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are recommended when working with remote developers.
It is also common to hide specific business details to avoid leaked and stolen information. But this tends to have adverse effects on the software development process. Unless it has to be a secret, don’t keep it a secret.
Here is the thing, the more the developers know about your plan and goal, the more effective they will be. Not just at building and solving a specific problem, but also resolving any unforeseen issue that comes up. It only makes your life easier and the developer more productive.
Additionally, full transparency with every member of the team negates any sense of hierarchy. This improves teamwork and gives a chance to every member to assist in all phases of the project.
Lastly, when managing remote developers, establish clearly defined roles for everyone. Team members must know who to reach out to at every aspect of the project for accountability’s sake. If everyone knows their role, you can track high-performers and slackers.
This will also keep overly eager performers from encroaching into the responsibilities of their more reserved counterparts. Failure to have established roles is a sure-fire way to create hostility between team members.
Additionally, have a well-defined strategy and a set timeline. Having a time-based plan remote developers can follow is a great way to push everyone to a particular goal and prevent drop-offs in productivity.
A useful means for achieving this is deploying the Agile methodology of project management. It gives you control over the entire software development process. This philosophy helps you define short to long-term goals and delegate responsibility to those who are capable of executing them.
The implementation of the Agile methodology might take some time, and mistakes will be made along the way. But by sticking with it, you learn more about the remote developers and grow as a team.
As hard as it can be to work with remote developers, there are ways to make everyone’s lives easier. By following these nine easy steps, you will be able to build efficient remote development teams capable of executing any project.
Of course, there will be days when it feels like nothing you try is working. On those days, the solution is not to abandon these tips, but to find creative new ways to implement their overall purpose.
Remote working is the future and it does not have to mean lower quality of work. If you do a good job of managing your remote developers, you will attract the best talents across the world. As someone once said, “a good manager is nothing more than a service to his employees.”
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One of our recruitment officers will get in touch with you today!
One of our recruitment officers will get in touch with you today!
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Storma is a UK-owned business established 5 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent worldwide with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
Our client is a Canadian-based eCommerce engineering firm helping merchants build and manage their digital store infrastructure, optimize customer experience, and convert traffic to sales more efficiently.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill sets.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting-edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers from the Philippines join to work as part of international engineering teams and grow their CVs and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive, cutting-edge workplace that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
We are seeking a motivated and dynamic Business Development Representative to join our team. This role is crucial for driving our business growth by identifying potential clients, conducting direct outreach, and setting appointments for our sales team. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for sales, a successful track record of achievement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
We are seeking a Fullstack Developer with a strong emphasis on front-end development and user experience to join our team. This role requires a balance of front-end and back-end skills, with a preference for candidates who excel in creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces.
We are seeking an experienced IT Project Manager to oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of IT projects. The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills combined with excellent leadership abilities to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget
We are looking for a talented Software Tester to join our expanding QA team. You will be working as part of a highly skilled team, helping build high-quality interactive web and mobile applications. You will work on implementing automation tests for our products to make sure they are kept robust.
As a Full-Stack Developer, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our core product, which is market-ready and positioned for continuous improvement and innovation. You will be integral to the entire development lifecycle, enhancing existing features and deploying new functionalities. You will stay abreast of industry trends to continuously innovate and improve our product, taking ownership of projects from conception through to implementation.
As an iOS Developer, you lead technical excellence and management within our team on a leading VOD platform. You ensure iOS projects are delivered on time and within budget while providing clear solutions to complex technical issues. Your role fosters innovation and excellence through the adoption of new technologies and best practices, supporting the team to produce top-tier work.
This role will be to collaborate on the Quality Assurance of the company’s application, whilst also taking responsibility for the back-end architecture. You will assume responsibility for a wide range of activities that will include candidate support, client and integration support activities, and project-based work to improve our overall effectiveness
As a QA Engineer, the ideal candidate will have a strong background in both manual and automated testing, with a focus on mobile and web applications. This role involves working closely with developers, product owners, and UX/UI designers to ensure the highest quality of our software products.
We seek a Video Editor with a strong creative eye. You'll create high-quality YouTube videos, repurpose content, and streamline workflows using Adobe Premiere, Frame.io, CapCut, and other AI tools to maximize your video editing efforts. You will create videos on a weekly basis for our company and our CEO's personal brand. The job is completely remote, but we have offices in Makati, where you might be asked to join us occasionally for team gatherings.
This is an exciting opportunity for a video editor who has a growth mindset, who takes pride in their work and enjoys working from the comfort of their home.
As a Senior Developer specializing in Zuora Subscription Billing, you will be responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of Zuora Subscription Billing solutions to support our subscription-based business model. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and implement solutions that align with the company's objectives.
Cloud Employee is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago.We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is building a ‘Future of Work’ AI driven talent tech platform in the remote software engineer staffing space.
In this strategic and hands-on creative role, you'll have the opportunity to shape the narrative of remote work and impact the tech industry at a global scale.
With team members across the US, LATAM, Europe and Asia - we’re on a mission to bridge the talent gap with our matching platform and employee experience programs.
We need your storytelling strategy skills to ‘share the journey’ and the human stories behind our business
Cloud Employee, is a UK owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a fast-growing UK-managed offshore recruitment and staffing company in the Philippines. We tackle the growing global IT skills shortage by connecting tech companies based in Europe, the US, and Australia to our pool of expert software developers in the country.
We are now seeking a passionate Senior/Team Lead Full-Stack PHP Developer to join our team of skilled talents. This is an excellent opportunity to join a fun and dynamic work environment and to significantly advance your career.
Cloud Employee is a UK-owned business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent worldwide with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines and Brazil as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineering teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement, and well-being. We provide security, career paths, individual training programs, and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a UK-owned business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent worldwide with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines and Brazil as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Our Client
A leading UK-company that specializes in providing foreign currencies solutions
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
A completely integrated innovation studio within the corporate framework, with a primary emphasis on making the future of the food industry accessible to all. Their core objective is to discover, create, and expand tailored automation remedies, utilizing a team of proficient individuals covering domains like engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Our central mission revolves around constructing automation technology solutions that empower individuals to achieve greater feats.
Position Summary
In your role as a Robotics Software Engineer, your expertise in Robotic Software Engineering will be the key to your success. Collaborating with our skilled team, you'll play a pivotal role in advancing our cutting-edge product development accelerator. Your responsibilities will involve crafting, programming, and evaluating top-notch software essential for ensuring the dependable and secure operations of commercial robots.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
A completely integrated innovation studio within the corporate framework, with a primary emphasis on making the future of the food industry accessible to all. Their core objective is to discover, create, and expand tailored automation remedies, utilizing a team of proficient individuals covering domains like engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Our central mission revolves around constructing automation technology solutions that empower individuals to achieve greater feats.
Position Summary
The position of Mechanical Engineer corresponds to a mid-level role. An ideal candidate for this position possesses robust practical expertise in various technical systems. The responsibilities encompass a combination of individual input within projects and actively leading teams towards achieving a remarkable standard of technical proficiency.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
A completely integrated innovation studio within the corporate framework, with a primary emphasis on making the future of the food industry accessible to all. Their core objective is to discover, create, and expand tailored automation remedies, utilizing a team of proficient individuals covering domains like engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Our central mission revolves around constructing automation technology solutions that empower individuals to achieve greater feats.
Position Summary
In the role of an Industrial Design Engineer with a focus on cobotics, you will assume a crucial position in envisioning, crafting, and honing both the tangible and operational facets of our collaborative robotic solutions. Your collaboration will extend to cross-functional groups, including mechanical engineers, software developers, and UX designers, in the pursuit of devising cobotic systems centered around users. These systems will redefine effectiveness and safety within industrial settings.
Cloud Employee, is a UK owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and cutting edge workplace continuously investing in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
A top rated and state of the art cloud based video interviewing solutions company based in the UK catering to over 5000 prominent companies around the world such as Samsung, Uber, Boohoo, Coinbase, 7-Eleven and many more.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
A completely integrated innovation studio within the corporate framework, with a primary emphasis on making the future of the food industry accessible to all. Their core objective is to discover, create, and expand tailored automation remedies, utilizing a team of proficient individuals covering domains like engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Our central mission revolves around constructing automation technology solutions that empower individuals to achieve greater feats.
Position Overview
In the role of an Electrical Engineer, your expertise and proficiency in designing electrical-mechanical systems will be a key asset, enabling you to stand out. Collaborating with our skilled team, you will play a vital role in expediting product development processes.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a fast-growing UK-managed offshore recruitment and staffing company in the Philippines. We tackle the growing global IT skills shortage by connecting tech companies based in Europe, the US, and Australia to our pool of expert software developers in the country.
We are now seeking a passionate Front End React Developer to join our team of skilled talents. This is an excellent opportunity to join a fun and dynamic work environment and to significantly advance your career.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
Cloud Employee is a fast-growing UK-managed offshore recruitment and staffing company in the Philippines. We tackle the growing global IT skills shortage by connecting tech companies based in Europe, the US, and Australia to our pool of expert software developers in the country.
We are now seeking a passionate Full-Stack Developer to join our team of skilled talents. This is an excellent opportunity to join a fun and dynamic work environment and to significantly advance your career.
Cloud Employee, is a UK-owned Philippines business established 8 years ago. We connect high-performing software engineer talent in the Philippines with some of the world’s leading and most innovative tech companies. Developers join to work from the Philippines as part of international engineer teams and grow their CV and skill-set.
We pride ourselves on being supportive and cutting-edge work that continuously invests in staff development, engagement and well-being. We provide security, and career paths, along with individual training programs and mentoring.
February 16, 2024
Thinking about starting a software development project? Or are you in the middle of one? Whatever stage your project is in, working with remote developers is almost unavoidable these days. They tend to be cheaper and overall, better for business.
But for all the advantages, managing remote developers can be very hard. After all, working with people in the same room can be difficult, much less with people miles away from you. Yet, there are ways to avoid this stubborn challenge.
Based on years of experience working as a remote developer and conversations with other coders, here are tips to help you work with a remote development team and produce quality results.
Having an idea you are certain of its success can be exciting. But before you start hiring remote developers to help you bring it to life, make sure you have a clear picture of what it is and how you want to execute it. Think it through before contacting a hiring agency.
When you know the What and the How of your idea, you can accurately communicate it to a remote development team. It helps you avoid disappointments and frustrations when the developer(s) inevitably fail to build ‘what you had in mind.’ There is also the added fact you will be wasting money.
Additionally, developers are not a monolith. Everyone has their specializations. Having a clear game plan will ensure you hire the right developers for each aspect of the project. Expecting one or two developers to build every part of your idea is essentially a recipe for disaster.
So, take your time, do your research on the exact needs of the project. By doing this, you put yourself in a better position to manage the remote developers working with you.
According to a survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit, executives of multinational companies believe multicultural teams help drive innovation. They also have a better grasp of global trends and are less likely to suffer from groupthink.
This is a quality worth tapping into. However, you mustn’t overlook cultural and language barriers when you are hiring remote developers. Communication is an important weapon when managing remote developers, and it is only effective when the people you work with understand and can relate with you.
Thankfully, English is the most spoken language in the world, so there is less to worry about language-wise. Culturally, banter and similar non-work interests help build rapport between team members and boosts productivity.
Find and promote interests that will improve engagement between your remote developers and blur the lines between their backgrounds. This can be anything, but it has to be relaxing, entertaining, and definitely not work-related.
It may seem silly that you are paying people not to work. But trust me when I say the reward is better than any productivity seminar you organize.
There is no use in having a remote development team with diverse members if you won’t consider their suggestions and ideas. As a matter of fact, if you hire right, your team most likely consists of developers who have worked on multiple projects and are experts in their field.
They have seen their fair share of failures and successes and know what was responsible for every outcome. Refusing to listen to them will be doing yourself and project a disservice, not to speak of underusing their knowledge, skill, and talent.
Not every one of them will offer their thoughts unprompted. Nevertheless, you can ask questions yourself, such as -
Questions like these will ensure you get the full breadth of the expertise you are paying for. What’s more, it will make your remote developers feel like they are truly part of your team. It will prevent the growth of an Us vs Them mentality against your HQ team, which can be a huge productivity dampener.
Multiple surveys and studies, including this one by FlexJobs, show that remote workers are more productive working from home. That includes programmers, who generally tend to be independent and self-sustaining people.
It means they prefer working on their own time instead of a fixed work schedule. This flies against the instinct of anyone raised within a traditional work setting. But if you are going to successfully manage a remote development team, you need to be prepared to be flexible with the work hours.
This is especially necessary if they are in another time zone. Forcing remote developers to work according to your HQ’s work time will most likely lead to resentment and produce shoddy work.
Besides avoiding disgruntled employees, time zone flexibility can also improve the efficiency of your company. When a team goes to bed in one time zone, another resumes in another time zone. This guarantees round-the-clock productivity for your business, something few businesses can boast of.
Flexibility in approach also extends to timelines, payment, and product functionality. If it won’t affect the overall quality of the final product, there is no reason to be a hardass about it.
Just because the employees on your team are spread around the globe is no reason for your company to lack operational cohesiveness. But how do you manage this when they are in different time zones? Well, not all time zones have large differences and it doesn’t have to be for work.
Instead of making sure all your developers are working at the same time, use overlapping uptime to maintain communication. For example, if there is a two-hour difference between you and your remote team, you have five hours when working hours overlap. Use this period to organize virtual meetings and discussions.
In cases when the difference is too large to overlap, like New York/India, daily written reports can be a useful alternative. You can also set up emergency communication channels that let both parties reach each other when necessary.
Take it from a veteran freelance programmer, one of the most useful tips for remote developers management is consistent appreciation. Just because the developers aren’t sharing an office with you, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve or need regular appreciation. This is something too many founders and project managers forget.
If you want the best result from working with remote developers, you need to treat them like they are your permanent employees. That means offering encouragement and saying thank you as much as possible for completed tasks or unexpected accommodations.
Bonuses and gifts are also great ways to show appreciation. Hell, something as simple as giving them time off and checking on their wellbeing goes a long way in improving the relationship between you and the remote development team.
This may seem too much for people you are not seeing face to face. However, it is important to remember that people are at their best when they feel appreciated.
Speaking of building a relationship with your remote developers, it is important to have lots of face-time hours. Text-based interactions are not as effective at team building as video interaction. With video, you can determine the developer’s emotional status and connect on a personal level.
When you are in touch with their emotional state and successfully establish a rapport, you are better equipped at navigating team challenges.
Video chats don't have to be every day and don't always have to involve you. You can pair random employees to take breaks and hang out weekly. There are multiple tools that are great at this. They include Donut, a slack plug-in, Skype, Appear.in, Zoom, and several others.
Furthermore, if you can afford it, travel to their location and spend physical time together. This is especially useful if the developers are congregated in one location. You may think it defeats the whole point of being remote. But the occasional trip creates a deeper connection than anything you might achieve via online chat.
If you are looking for the most effective way of managing remote developers, it is doing as little managing as possible. We know this can be difficult, especially for managers who have a background as developers. Yet, it is in your best interest to do it.
Programmers love to figure things out on their own, and their expertise grows the more they learn from mistakes. Micromanaging takes this sense of creativity and innovation away from them. It reduces developers to robots who only do what they are told to do.
This creates discontent among the team and members might feel undervalued and creatively stifled. It also keeps you from maximizing your investment in the developers’ expertise. On top of that, you waste a lot of time and effort working on stuff you are paying the developers to do. Time you could spend on other aspects of the business.
Of course, that’s not to say you should leave developers without direction. The goal here is to find a balance between your vision and their problem-solving process.
We understand that no one wants a Facebook situation on their hands. No one wants to see their proprietary code/data and algorithms stolen to create what ends up being the next big thing. That is why Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are recommended when working with remote developers.
It is also common to hide specific business details to avoid leaked and stolen information. But this tends to have adverse effects on the software development process. Unless it has to be a secret, don’t keep it a secret.
Here is the thing, the more the developers know about your plan and goal, the more effective they will be. Not just at building and solving a specific problem, but also resolving any unforeseen issue that comes up. It only makes your life easier and the developer more productive.
Additionally, full transparency with every member of the team negates any sense of hierarchy. This improves teamwork and gives a chance to every member to assist in all phases of the project.
Lastly, when managing remote developers, establish clearly defined roles for everyone. Team members must know who to reach out to at every aspect of the project for accountability’s sake. If everyone knows their role, you can track high-performers and slackers.
This will also keep overly eager performers from encroaching into the responsibilities of their more reserved counterparts. Failure to have established roles is a sure-fire way to create hostility between team members.
Additionally, have a well-defined strategy and a set timeline. Having a time-based plan remote developers can follow is a great way to push everyone to a particular goal and prevent drop-offs in productivity.
A useful means for achieving this is deploying the Agile methodology of project management. It gives you control over the entire software development process. This philosophy helps you define short to long-term goals and delegate responsibility to those who are capable of executing them.
The implementation of the Agile methodology might take some time, and mistakes will be made along the way. But by sticking with it, you learn more about the remote developers and grow as a team.
As hard as it can be to work with remote developers, there are ways to make everyone’s lives easier. By following these nine easy steps, you will be able to build efficient remote development teams capable of executing any project.
Of course, there will be days when it feels like nothing you try is working. On those days, the solution is not to abandon these tips, but to find creative new ways to implement their overall purpose.
Remote working is the future and it does not have to mean lower quality of work. If you do a good job of managing your remote developers, you will attract the best talents across the world. As someone once said, “a good manager is nothing more than a service to his employees.”
Have a question?
