Being a remote-first startup can offer many advantages, such as a larger hiring pool, greater candidate interest, and higher retention rates. Even so, challenges can arise, requiring affected parties to think strategically and creatively to navigate them. What are some of the most common difficulties, and how can leaders solve them?
1. Communication
Formal and informal communications are equally important for creating strong teams. However, they do not necessarily occur as naturally across fully or mostly remote teams as they would in person. Sometimes that’s because people are working at entirely different times, meaning someone cannot necessarily pick up the phone and immediately reach a colleague.
Additionally, the communications people largely don’t think about — such as the chatter around the coffee maker or between cubicles — may be absent in a remote-first startup. These realities mean managers must act intentionally to encourage communication to occur organically and productively.
One possibility is to hold virtual coffee chats where attendees can discuss any topics they’d like while sipping hot beverages. These gatherings help workers get to know one another beyond their roles and can foster a stronger team spirit.
Workers should also receive clear guidance about which communication methods to use and when. These instructions should contain information about what to do if someone attempts to contact a colleague through the provided channels and has not gotten a response within a stated time frame. Going into that level of detail prevents workflow interference.
2. Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks have become incredibly common in modern society. Criminals understand that making entire networks or systems inaccessible severely compromises the businesses that depend on them. Many thrive on the notoriety that comes from successful, large-scale incidents.
Distributed teams working for startups may become prime targets because they collectively broaden the attack surface and may have access to trade secrets or other confidential information.
Complications also occur if employees lack the information needed to stay safe from online threats. For example, one study indicated that nearly a quarter of people working from home were unaware of the security protocols for their devices. Remote workers may also not know what to do if they receive suspicious emails that may be phishing attempts. They can’t necessarily notify someone in the IT department immediately, especially if the respective staff members are in different time zones.
Startup leaders can address some of these issues by providing workers with equipment to use from home rather than expecting or allowing them to use devices they already own. IT professionals should install required software, apply operating system updates, and implement other security measures to reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks.
3. Time zones
Not all remote-first startups have workforces across multiple time zones, but that possibility becomes more likely as they grow. Research indicates that employees maintaining different schedules may experience communication difficulties.
For example, they may spend more time writing each other emails instead of having video calls. It may then be harder to clarify specific details and get questions answered promptly, which can prolong the overall exchanges. Some workers feel pressure to alter their schedules so that they can catch their colleagues on the clock to discuss things. However, that can also become complicated, especially when employees work in countries with right-to-disconnect and working-time laws.
One of the best ways to solve this is to encourage employees to show extra patience and remember that their co-workers may have different schedules. Relatedly, startups should use asynchronous communication methods when possible. These help people stay connected regardless of their time zones and schedules.
4. Work-life balance
The lines between work and home life often blur for remote employees. They are typically on the clock and enjoying their downtime in the same physical locations, so it is not always easy for them to separate the two parts of their lives. This reality means they may burn out more quickly or overextend themselves by agreeing to take on projects outside of their usual work schedules.
Good managers avoid these situations by remaining aware when employees have taken on too much and helping them prioritize. That may mean telling them to hold off on certain tasks to make room for more urgent ones.
Leaders should also deal with this challenge during the hiring process by trying to find applicants who are good fits for the way their organization runs. Some people have no trouble setting clear boundaries between their work and home lives.
Remaining proactive to address remote-working issues
While these are among the most common challenges experienced by remote-first startups, others — such as cultural differences, rapid growth, and unclear goals — can also arise. Leaders should remain prepared by staying open to workers’ feedback and taking it seriously. When employees know that what they say matters to leadership, they will be more willing to come forward about concerns before those matters potentially become uncontrolled.
Zac Amos is the Features Editor at ReHack Magazine, where he covers business tech, HR, and cybersecurity. He is also a regular contributor at AllBusiness, TalentCulture, and VentureBeat. For more of his work, follow him on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn.
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