Managing a remote team isn’t harder than managing in-office staff, but it is different.
The main challenges are communication, alignment, and trust. Without addressing these, you risk missing deadlines, confusion, and disengaged employees.
With the right systems in place, international employees can be more productive, engaged, and loyal than traditional ones.
This guide shares common challenges in managing remote employees with expanded examples, practical fixes, and strategies you can apply immediately.
If you haven’t hired remote talent yet, get in touch with Pavago.
We help you find A-players globally — people who integrate seamlessly into your systems, work your hours, and deliver results that feel local.
Common Challenges in Managing Remote Employees
After the COVID-19 pandemic, a Harvard study, “Remote Managers Are Having Trust Issues,” showed that 40% of leaders weren’t ready to manage remote teams, and 41% had trouble keeping their remote employees engaged.
In addition, only 40% of people working from home felt supported by their managers.
Here are some other common issues in managing remote employees and how to avoid them:
Challenge 1: Communication Breakdowns
The problem: Miscommunication happens easily without face-to-face interactions. For example, your admin assistant in the Philippines may miss a key update because it was buried in a long Slack thread.
The fix:
- Set clear communication norms for urgency and format
- When assigning tasks, make sure your instructions are crystal clear
- Use async tools like Loom and shared Google Docs to ensure nothing gets lost
Challenge 2: Time Zone Misalignment
The problem: Hiring offshore employees in different time zones can slow project momentum. If your graphic designer in Pakistan starts work at 10 a.m. local time, they’ll spend the entire workday waiting for feedback from their U.S.-based manager, who won’t be online until much later.
The fix:
- Create 2–3 hours of core overlap for live collaboration
- Rely on async tools like Trello or ClickUp for updates
- Record important meetings so no one falls behind
Pavago can help you find top-tier offshore talent willing to work in your time zone, making collaboration much more easy.
Challenge 4: Building Team Culture Remotely
The problem: Without intentional effort, culture can become purely transactional. A web developer working remotely may never interact casually with colleagues.
The fix:
- Add personal check-ins at the start of meetings
- Celebrate milestones publicly
- Organize virtual events like game nights or coffee chats
Challenge 5: Onboarding Remotely
The problem: Ad-hoc onboarding delays productivity. As a result, your new offshore staff accountant might spend weeks figuring out tool access and workflows.
The fix:
- Provide a complete remote onboarding kit with SOPs, training videos, and logins
- Assign a mentor or remote work buddy to help them with hurdles
- Schedule daily check-ins during the first week, and then weekly later
Challenge 6: Preventing Isolation and Burnout
The problem: Remote staff can feel isolated or overworked, leading to disengagement. For instance, your marketing manager may start to underperform without regular interaction.
The fix:
- Encourage social interactions
- Provide flexible work arrangements
- Implement wellness programs like mental health days or online fitness classes
Challenge 7: Aligning Around Company Goals
The problem: Without visibility, employees lose sight of the bigger picture. A content marketer might end up being just a “writer” if they don’t see the overall goals and the contribution required from their end to achieve them.
The fix: Share company updates regularly, connect tasks to broader outcomes, and involve remote staff in quarterly planning.
Tools and Processes That Make Managing Remote Employees Easier
The right tools keep everyone connected and accountable.
- Use Slack or Microsoft Teams for quick communication
- ClickUp or Asana for project tracking
- Notion for centralizing documentation
- Tools like Loom or Miro can streamline async collaboration
Training and Development for Remote Teams
Growth opportunities keep remote employees engaged. Offer virtual workshops, online courses, and personalized development plans. For example, provide a paid subscription to LinkedIn Learning or host monthly skill-sharing sessions among team members.
💡 Pavago offers an exclusive community for our clients and their offshore hires, where we host regular skill-building sessions to help employees grow and excel in their roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Managing remote employees really just boils down to being clear, staying connected, and always looking for ways to get better.
With the right systems, tools, and a culture you build on purpose, your team can crush it from anywhere.
If you’d rather skip the guesswork, Pavago can help you hire, onboard, and manage A-players offshore who feel like they’ve been part of your team from day one.
