The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make When Building Remote Teams
Remote work is here to stay. After COVID-19, it became the new normal, and more companies are embracing it. But while remote work has tons of benefits, it also comes with challenges. Many businesses struggle to build effective remote teams, making common mistakes that lead to confusion, frustration, and burnout.
Here’s what often goes wrong—and how to fix it.
1. Poor Communication
What Happens: Ever sent a message and got no response? Or had no idea what your team was working on? That’s what happens when there’s no clear communication. People feel lost, deadlines slip, and misunderstandings pile up.
How to Fix It: Set clear expectations for how and when to communicate. Use Slack for quick updates, Zoom for face-to-face chats, and project management tools like Asana or Trello to keep things organized. Regular check-ins help everyone stay on the same page—and remind remote workers they’re part of a team, not just working alone at home.
2. Weak Team Culture
What Happens: In an office, team bonds form naturally through casual conversations, spontaneous brainstorming sessions and lunch breaks with colleagues. Remote teams miss out on these interactions, which can lead to a sense of isolation.
How to Fix It: Build culture intentionally. Set up virtual coffee breaks, fun Slack channels, and even remote-friendly team-building activities. Celebrate achievements, birthdays, and milestones to create a sense of belonging. People work better together when they actually like each other.
3. Micromanaging Employees
What Happens: Many managers worry that if they can’t see their employees working, they’re not actually working. This leads to constant check-ins, time tracking, and even monitoring software. The result? Employees feel untrusted and disengaged.
How to Fix It: Focus on results, not activity. Instead of worrying about when or how work gets done, set clear goals and trust your team to meet them. If you’ve hired the right people, you don’t need to watch their every move.
4. No Work-Life Boundaries
What Happens: When your home is your office, it’s easy to work all the time. Many remote employees log extra hours without even realizing it, leading to stress and burnout.
How to Fix It: Encourage a clear separation between work and personal life. Set expectations for working hours, avoid late emails, and remind employees to take regular breaks. Healthy employees are productive employees.
5. A Messy Onboarding Process
What Happens: Imagine starting a new job, but instead of an office tour and introductions, you just get a login and a pile of unread messages. That’s what bad remote onboarding feels like—confusing and overwhelming.
How to Fix It: Create a structured onboarding process that includes clear documentation, scheduled training sessions, and a mentor or buddy system. The goal is to make them feel like part of the team from day one—not like they’re figuring everything out alone.
6. Ignoring Employee Well-Being
What Happens: Remote work can be isolating. Without daily human interaction, people can feel lonely, unmotivated, and even depressed.
How to Fix It: Check in on more than just work. Ask how people are doing, encourage open conversations about well-being, and offer mental health resources if possible.
7. Not Recognizing Hard Work
What Happens: In an office, it’s easy to say “Great job!” in passing. But remote employees can feel invisible if their work isn’t recognized. Over time, this leads to low motivation.
How to Fix It: Make recognition a habit. Acknowledge achievements in team meetings, send appreciation messages, and create a culture where good work is valued. A little appreciation goes a long way.
8. Not Providing the Right Tools
What Happens: Slow internet, outdated software, and endless tech issues - nothing kills productivity faster than bad tools. If employees don’t have what they need, they’ll struggle to do their jobs.
How to Fix It: Make sure everyone has the right setup—whether that’s a good laptop, a second monitor, or a reliable VPN. Invest in software that makes collaboration easy, and offer IT support when needed.
Building a remote team isn’t just about letting people work from home. It’s about creating an environment where they can thrive - where they feel connected, trusted, and supported.