Managing Remote Teams During Summer and Holidays

Since 2020, many companies have transitioned to fully remote or hybrid work models, recognizing the immense work-life benefits that remote opportunities provide in the form of balance and flexibility for employees.

As the founder and CEO of a fully remote team at my company, ZenToes, I’ve found that my team flourishes in a scenario that recognizes and allows for individual autonomy and scheduling flexibility year-round while prioritizing productivity, community, and a commitment to company goals. Yet, managing remote teams during summers and holidays requires specific strategies.

Managing a fully remote team can be challenging, especially during holidays. It’s crucial to maintain a sense of company culture while regularly checking in with employees. During holiday periods — whether it’s summer, Thanksgiving, or winter holidays — remote management strategies should adjust to suit the needs of both employees and the organization. This ensures goals are met and employees can still enjoy the season.

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Below, I’ve included the top ten tips that I’ve found crucial in how to manage remote teams during summers and holidays.

1. Effective Communication

Prioritize regular and open communication to ensure employees understand the importance of requesting time off in advance. Supporting employees’ enjoyment of their time off is essential to achieving work-life balance. Instill confidence in your team that you’ll be supportive and receptive to PTO requests and establish a standard notice period to ensure mutual respect.

2. Stay Organized

Organization is key to ensuring tasks are completed and team members stay on track to meet goals, particularly when working remotely. At ZenToes, we host weekly team meetings via Zoom to keep all departments updated on priorities, progress, milestones, and new goals.

3. Leverage Technology

Technology can be incredibly useful in helping your remote team manage their time, stay organized, coordinate schedules, and ensure timely task completion. From Slack and Trello to tools like Notion and Calendly, find what works best for your team and ensure everyone feels supported in using each platform. At ZenToes, we use Asana, Slack, the Google Suite, and some design-specific tools.

4. Allow for Flexible Scheduling

Establish core working hours for your remote team. When unexpected events arise and an employee requires last-minute flexibility, ensure the rest of the team is aware and covering. During holiday periods, such as the time between Christmas and New Year’s, key team members at ZenToes maintain an “on call” status to ensure no one needs to work unless there is an emergency.

5. Results-Oriented Focus

Focus on results as the core measurement of your team’s work and success. During holiday periods, people may need to account for family visits, children’s camps, vacations, and more. As long as the work gets done well, employees should be able to make the most of these holiday periods and valuable time with loved ones.

6. Establish Clear Goals

Define clear goals and objectives for your company, teams, and individual team members. Understanding and unifying around a desired outcome supports team camaraderie and gives work a clear sense of purpose, helping motivate remote employees.

7. Regular Check-Ins

Regularly check in with your team, both as a whole and individually. Beyond our weekly team meetings at ZenToes, we also have individual check-ins to support employees’ work, growth, and happiness.

8. Make Time for Face-to-Face Interactions

Set aside time to see each other each week, even if it’s via Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams. As impactful as remote work can be, it can sometimes get lonely. Seeing your team’s faces will support overall team building, company culture, and connection.

9. Establish Reporting Mechanisms

Clearly define how you want your team to report and track progress weekly and on each project. This ensures they come to check-ins prepared, and the company can track progress towards individual and company goals.

10. Empower Employee Well-being

Employees’ well-being should be paramount to every business leader and company. Make sure your team knows that you truly respect and care for them as individuals, not just for their work but in all aspects of their lives.

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Everyone’s remote management style is unique, so pay attention to your own needs and the needs of your team members. Foster a supportive remote work culture and an organized system for tracking and committing to company goals. This way, remote employees can get the most out of the holiday period, both personally and professionally.