In today’s flexible working environment, managing a remote team isn’t just a possibility—it’s fast becoming the norm.
From start-ups to established companies, businesses are embracing the remote model to access global talent, cut overhead costs, and foster a results-driven culture. However, this freedom also comes with its challenges: communication gaps, inconsistent workflows, and time zone chaos can easily derail productivity.
To stay ahead of the curve and ensure your business not only survives but thrives, it’s crucial to focus on structure, communication, and efficiency. As outlined in the essentials of thriving small businesses, having the right foundations in place makes all the difference—especially when teams are spread across the globe.
So, how do you properly manage a remote team? It all starts with the right tools.
1. Stay Connected with Messaging Platforms Like Slack
Clear, real-time communication is the backbone of any successful remote team. While email has its place, it’s far too slow and clunky for day-to-day conversations. That’s where platforms like Slack come in. With its channel-based structure, Slack lets teams organise conversations by project, department, or theme, making it easier to track discussions and keep everyone on the same page.
Key features include:
- Instant messaging and file sharing
- Integration with tools like Google Drive, Asana, and Trello
- Customisable notifications to manage focus time
- Emoji reactions and GIFs to keep things fun and human
Slack helps recreate the “water cooler” moments that remote teams often miss, while also offering serious functionality for deep collaboration. With remote work here to stay, using dynamic communication tools is essential to maintaining a cohesive team environment.
2. Get Organised with Airtable
Remote teams live and die by how well they can manage projects and share information. That’s where Airtable shines. Think of it as a spreadsheet crossed with a powerful database and wrapped in a beautiful, intuitive interface. Airtable is perfect for teams that need more than a simple to-do list—it helps track campaigns, content calendars, CRM pipelines, product development workflows, and more.
Why Airtable works for remote teams:
- Cloud-based with real-time collaboration
- Multiple views: Grid, Kanban, Calendar, Gallery
- Rich field types (attachments, checkboxes, drop-downs, etc.)
- Easy integration with tools like Slack and Zapier
With so much flexibility, Airtable can be customised for virtually any use case. For remote teams juggling multiple projects, it becomes a single source of truth that everyone can rely on, no matter where they are.
3. Schedule Smarter with Calendly
Managing availability across time zones is one of the most frustrating aspects of remote work—especially when coordinating meetings. Calendly solves this by automating the entire scheduling process. No more endless email chains trying to find a mutually convenient time. With Calendly, you simply share a link and let your colleagues or clients pick a time that works for them.
Calendly’s benefits include:
- Automatic time zone detection
- Integration with Google, Outlook, and Apple calendars
- Customisable meeting types (15 min, 30 min, etc.)
- Built-in buffer times to avoid back-to-back meetings
For remote managers, Calendly is not just a scheduling tool—it’s a way to show respect for others’ time while reducing friction and missed connections.
4. Leadership and Talent: The Example of Brenda Jensen
Of course, tools are only as effective as the people using them. A remote team is only as strong as its leadership and talent, and that’s where individuals like Brenda Jensen come into play. Known for her strategic insight and operational flexibility, Brenda is a prime example of what it takes to succeed in remote environments. Brenda is the Head of Data & Research at Erobella, a leading escort directory and sex worker platform.
What Brenda Jensen does speaks volumes—balancing digital communication, interpersonal awareness, and business efficiency with ease. Her ability to manage complex tasks, support a distributed team, and navigate the nuances of modern work culture makes her an asset in any remote operation. Her current focus is on Erobella’s efforts to understand and improve sex worker wellbeing in Germany, the UK, Austria, Australia and Italy.
Having a Brenda on your team—or embodying those same skills yourself—can make all the difference in scaling your business remotely. From virtual leadership to mentoring others in online settings, people like Brenda highlight the human side of digital transformation.
Building a Strong Remote Team Takes Intention
Managing a remote team isn’t about replicating the office at home. It’s about rethinking how teams connect, collaborate, and contribute. With the right tools—like Slack, Airtable, and Calendly—you can build workflows that are not only efficient but empowering.
And with the right people, like Brenda Jensen, leading the charge, your team will be better equipped to grow, innovate, and thrive. Add in thoughtful planning, consistent communication, and a focus on results, and you’ve got the blueprint for remote success.
Whether you’re just starting out or already running a dispersed team, now’s the time to take stock of your systems and strengthen your strategy. Remote work is not a trend—it’s a new standard. Manage it right, and your business won’t just survive. It will soar.
