How to Build Trust with Your Offshore Software Development Team
ProbitsPicture that you're building your house. There's no way you could just give keys to someone, right? You would want a builder you trust, who understands your vision and cares about the outcome as much as you do. This is exactly how your startup should feel once it's working with an outsourced software development team. Trusting your team isn’t just a bonus; it’s the essential ingredient for making your business partnership across the seas work smoothly.
In Australia, good relationships make all the difference between a project that's successful and one that fails. According to data from Statista, startups nurturing powerful partnerships are 66% more likely to achieve long-term success. The question is, how do you build that trust with a team that's miles away? Let's dive deeper into practical tips to help you build lasting relationships with your offshore team.
Develop Personal Connections with Your Offshore Team:
We know it can be a bit awkward asking personal questions, but you will be surprised how open people are in talking about their lives. To get started with developing connections with a personal touch, you can use the following strategies:
1) Start with Small Talk Small talk doesn’t have to be spilling tea, but it can do something with what their work schedule is like, whether they are working from the office or at home. For instance, at Probits, we encourage clients to participate in virtual coffee breaks. All of these casual conversations bring people closer to each other. After all, it is more comfortable to work with friends than with strangers.
2) Encourage team-building activities Why does team building have to be in person? Virtual escape rooms, online trivia nights, or even a simple game of Pictionary over Zoom work wonders. These activities break down barriers and build trust. An Australian Company ManyPixels also introduced virtual game nights to strengthen the interaction and community of its diverse workforce. This is also a package of different interactive games that are collaborative and communicative.
3) Visit In-Person When Possible Even though virtual meetups are great, there's something about sharing a meal or a handshake that solidifies relationships. And here's some good news: Probits has a presence in Australia. Our founder is more than happy to meet up for a coffee in Sydney to discuss your project.
4) Prioritize Transparent Communication While personal connections lay the groundwork, maintaining transparent communication is equally important. Don’t hold back to reach out for questions or any suggestions you have in mind. It keeps the relationship strong on both sides.
5) Set Clear Expectations from Day One From the very first day, be sure to set goals, timelines, and well-defined deliverables. This will avoid any misunderstandings down the line. Use simple language and confirm that everyone is on the same page.
6) Establish Consistent Check-ins and Updates Regular communication keeps the momentum going. You have to set up weekly check-ins, daily stand-ups, or whatever that fits your project's pace. These meetings will be a platform where you can address concerns, celebrate wins, and keep everyone aligned. Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams are great for instant communication. Probits often uses Slack huddles for quick, real-time conversations, making it feel like we're right there in the office with you.
7)Use Tools for Transparency You can also check out some project management tools. Jira, Asana, and Trello are some popular tools that might be just the best for you. They show the progress of your projects. There you can see all the tasks, deadlines, and who's responsible for what. A study by Clariti found that teams using collaborative tools can be up to 20% more productive, a boost that any startup would welcome.
8) Understand Cultural Differences Australia is known for its laid-back culture, but not every country operates the same way. Take some time to understand your remote team's culture. It's fun to talk about the culture of other people, like what their main festivals are and the reason behind why they celebrate them. In some cultures, "yes" could hint that they understand, not necessarily that they agree. I can recall one funny story: how an Aussie manager kept asking his outsourced team if they could make a tight deadline. They kept answering "yes," but then the project was late. Of course, it was because they did not want to disappoint him with "no." Just a little bit of knowledge in that direction might have saved many stressors.
9) Engage in Cross-Cultural Activities How about hosting a cultural exchange session? Team members can share about their holidays, traditions, or even teach each other common phrases in their native languages. You can also opt for celebrating your offshore team’s festival, like Diwali, virtually. It's a fun way to build empathy and understanding.
10) Celebrate Milestones Together When you hit a project milestone, make it a big deal to celebrate it! Even if it's a virtual toast, send out gift cards and acknowledge their achievements. According to Harvard Business School, celebrating wins increases team engagement and can lead to an increase in the team’s productivity. That's worth paying attention to.
11) Create Informal Communication Channels Not every chat has to be professional. You can set up a casual chat room or a "watercooler" channel where team members can share about their non-work-related content. For instance, sharing memes is a fun way of communication.
12) Resolve Conflicts Proactively and Professionally Even if you have strong relationships, conflicts may arise, so it's important to address them head-on and on time. Try to understand each other’s perspectives. Make sure you're not just waiting for your turn to speak, but understanding your offshore team's perspective and finding common ground together.
Conclusion
Trust takes time to build, especially across different time zones and cultures. But by investing time in personal connections, prioritizing transparent communication, and proactively resolving conflicts, you and your team can be on the same page.
Step Up with Probits At Probits, we believe that trust is the cornerstone of any successful collaboration. We commit to lasting relationships with our clients by extending offshore teams into your existing team. Having a presence in both Australia and Nepal, we enjoy a unique positioning in bridging gaps and building strong partnerships. Ready to build a trustworthy and effective offshore partnership? Let's have a coffee and chat about how Probits can make it real.