Managing a field team means juggling a lot of different responsibilities at once while simultaneously facing deadlines for projects. It can all seem very overwhelming, but there are a lot of resources out there to help you become the best field team manager you can be. If you are just starting out as a field team manager or you are thinking about expanding to more projects with multiple teams, then read below for some tips on how to effectively manage your field team or teams.
Good Communication
Every team, no matter the type of work, cannot function properly without good communication. This means hosting daily briefings where team members can discuss daily goals and setting standards at the beginning of each project so that everyone is on the same page. As the manager, it is your job to make sure that every member of your team is aware of the end goal and the steps that need to be taken in order to achieve it.
Good communication starts with transparency from the top, so do not be afraid to make yourself available to your team. This is especially important if you are starting a project with a new group of people and nobody knows each other very well. Before any work begins, you must hold a meeting in which you lay out the ground rules and also allow the team members to meet each other and discuss strategy. After that initial meeting, you must maintain good communication throughout each project out in the field so that even if you are not all physically together, everyone still knows what their role is in the project.
Organize Projects
While establishing good communication from the start, you must also create an organized approach to any project. Whether you are managing one field team or ten, you should be aware of the intricacies of each task and have a clear game plan for each day. Juggling all of this can be tricky, but luckily, there are platforms like https://outonsite.co.uk/ that provide tools to help you manage multiple jobs and workers at once. These kinds of programs help you to organize field sites, manage schedules, and get jobs done faster.
One of the biggest deterrents to field project completion is a lack of organization, so it is imperative that you take advantage of the resources that are out there that can help you become a better manager. An organized field team means swifter completion times, team members who are less stressed, and a quicker payday for all.
Consistent Training Programs
In fieldwork, there are always new technologies and techniques that are being implemented to assist workers and improve the quality of projects. Because of this, competent field team managers are always ready to train their teams on the latest advancements. When you acquire a new field team, the first thing you should do is have training sessions in order to determine that your team is proficient in the work they will be doing, but the training should not stop there.
Training programs should be a part of the monthly, quarterly, and yearly schedules as they keep each team sharp and make sure that every member is consistently improving. The last thing any field team wants is to be conducting a project with outdated tools and knowledge. That will end in results that will just have to be improved upon in the near future. Clients will be expecting field teams that are up-to-date on the latest industry trends as well as advanced tools and products.
Accept Feedback
Every good manager should be able to take the time to listen to their crew and accept feedback from them after each project. Just like keeping the door open for good communication between team members, the manager should also keep the door open for feedback, good and bad. Everyone has the ability to improve and sometimes people cannot see that they need to until it is pointed out to them. Being humble enough to listen to your field team if they have any complaints or concerns shows that you are a good leader.
In order to make it known that you are willing to accept feedback, you can create an anonymous suggestion box or host meetings before and after field projects where team members can air their grievances or talk about what they enjoyed about the project. Then the team as a whole can build upon those suggestions and approach the next project with a new and improved game plan.
Recognize Hard Work
As a manager, you may be in charge of a lot of different team members who are all in charge of doing different tasks every day. The best thing you can do to boost morale and keep your field teams motivated is to recognize their hard work. This can be done in several ways, but we will just highlight a few.
Employee of the Month
Although this is the most basic of acknowledgments, it never fails to make people feel like they are doing well and have something to be proud of. If your field team has a trailer or a regular office space, it takes no time at all to print out a photo and post a little plaque on the wall to let the team know that they are appreciated.
Team Celebrations
What better way to reward a year of hard work than with an annual team celebration? This is a great way to let team members socialize outside of a work setting and to thank them for all of their efforts on recent projects.
Personal Acknowledgement
This is the most simple way to let employees know that they are doing a good job. If you see a team member putting in extra hours or stepping up as a leader, pull them aside and let them know that you see them and that if they keep it up, they have a bright future in the company.
Effectively managing a field team can sometimes feel like a big task, especially if you are in charge of more than one team, but there are many ways in which you can be a good leader and do the best job possible. Stick to these tips and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.