Behind the Screens: Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams by Jana

Effectively managing remote teams is a skill every modern business owner should learn – especially in eCommerce, where team members can come from all over the globe. Did you know that YLT Translations has more than 80 remote team members? If there’s anyone who understands the nuances of managing remote employees, it’s our very own Jana.

Jana talks all about the best practices of managing remote teams on her latest podcast with Seller Labs. Let’s get into what she’s learned about managing remote workers, practices that have helped catapult YLT Translations to the largest and most successful e-Commerce localization provider for Amazon sellers. From fostering a strong company culture to achieving consistent growth, there are a ton of lessons to be learned from Jana’s experience.

Did you know that YLT Translations has been in business for almost 6 years? Check out what happened during our 5th birthday last December – truly a company milestone!

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Section 1: How Jana Came to Manage Remote Teams

YLT Translations isn’t just a translation agency; it localizes and optimizes listings to bridge the gap between Amazon sellers and their global customers. We specialize in helping sellers scale internationally through seamless translation, targeted SEO research, precise localization, and way more – including a feasibility study through the Amazon Marketplace Opportunity Report and localizing chatbots for improved customer service!

Now, Jana is quite the polyglot, and early on in her career she realized that many Amazon listings weren’t translated in a way that converted international customers. Oftentimes then translations seemed off or awkward, missing in the cultural nuances that only native speakers can guarantee. So, out of her own sweat, blood, and tears, she set up YLT Translations, which can translate listings into many languages.

Check out our testimonials for the feedback of other sellers, who’ve praised Jana’s quick turnaround time, highly knowledgeable and professional team, and the immediate results of the output. These comments come from a place of experience with YLT Translations’ services; our translators understand that localization isn’t just about language – it’s about culture, trends, and the nuances that help your product resonate with customers worldwide. By delivering listings and content that feel native to each market, YLT helps sellers connect with customers on a deeper level.

Perhaps a large bulk of this success comes from a very knowledgeable team of native speakers – but it also stems from Jana’s dedication to empowering her remote team. YLT Translations thrives on its ability to harness global talent, creating opportunities for skilled individuals regardless of location. We’ve got so many different types of people on the team, from parents to single people, from people who work from home to people who work on the go. This dedication not only strengthens team spirit, but ensures exceptional value for every client. With a leadership philosophy built on mutual respect and trust, Jana has created a company that truly reflects her mission: enabling success for Amazon sellers and her team alike.

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Section 2: Tips Managing a Fully Remote Team from Jana

Tips for Managing Remote Employees Who Are Scattered All Over the Globe

If you were ever curious about how YLT Translations can localize listings on a global scale – keep in mind that our translators aren’t just remote, they’re truly global. We’ve got team members scattered across Europe and Asia. Yet, YLT has mastered the art of working across borders while fostering a sense of unity.

As Jana shares, “It’s really hard to get translators to come to the office and just gather them in one place, so we are fully remote.” By not insisting on face-to-face work, Jana discovered that she was able to tap into the best talent worldwide – but this also came with its own unique challenges.

Managing such a diverse workforce is no small feat. Jana’s solution lies in turning these challenges into opportunities. Working at YLT Translations is fun; Jana believes that her employees’ satisfaction is a huge priority.

“Team culture is something you need to cultivate because it can bring you so many good things,” she explains. Jana employs different communication channels to help the team coordinate and communicate in spite of different time zones. This way, team members feel value and included, no matter where they are. From a dedicated Slack channel to emails, What’s App, messenger, and more, asynchronous communication has helped to avoid misunderstanding, enforce team collaboration, and encourage employees to work in a team.

As a result, the YLT Team feels like they’re part of a whole, as opposed to the silo, vacuum-like life of working as an individual freelance translator. Oftentimes, employees need that connection with the rest of their team to understand that they’re part of a solid, reliable work environment. Over-communication can encourage team members to seek each other out when they need help – or to offer their assistance – solidifying a company culture of teamwork and cooperation.

One of Jana’s strategies includes maintaining a detailed list about every team member. This personal touch is the gold standard for remote managers, because every team member feels seen, validated, and acknowledged. Jana’s list contains all sorts of details, from birthdays, pets, family details, and even personal challenges.

“It’s not just about being an employer,” Jana avows. “It’s about being a decent person, showing them they’re valued.” This personalized approach fosters loyalty and camaraderie across the team, creating a foundation for long-term success.

Team Building Activities and Team Collaboration

To further strengthen bonds, YLT organizes annual in-person meetups, providing team members the chance to connect beyond Zoom and messaging platforms. Team members may fly in from all over the globe to meet their other teammates, engage in fun team-building activities, and understand Jana’s vision for the year ahead.

The most recent gathering, during YLT’s 5th anniversary, took place in Belgrade, Serbia, where about 50 team members came together for a weekend of activities and shared experiences.

“It was really extraordinary!” Jana smiles. “Some of them introduced themselves with their Slack names, like ‘Hi, I’m Maria Template!’ It was hilarious but also incredibly heartwarming to see people connecting for the first time in person.”

The Belgrade meetup included team-bonding exercises, social activities, and opportunities for personal interaction, leaving everyone with new friends and cherished memories. “Everyone takes home great emotions and memories, thinking, ‘Wow, I really love working at YLT, it’s unlike anywhere else I’ve ever worked,'” Jana beams.

These meetups are more than just a company retreat; they’re a vital part of maintaining the strong sense of belonging that defines YLT Translations.

Employees that work remotely face burnout pretty quickly; it’s one of the biggest challenges of managing remote teams. But team building activities, especially when conducted with as much positivity and warmth as YLT Translations’ activities, can help in a big way. According to Indeed, team building can:

• Foster better communication
• Improve performance
• Encourage collaboration
• Connect remote teams
• Embrace diversity among working teams
• Attract new talent by showcasing how a company takes care of its people
• Encourage innovativeness
• Build a happy team
• Promote health
• Promote a positive company culture

When you pay attention to the individual personalities, wants, and needs of your remote team, employees feel like they belong – they’re part of a stable company that values their time and their uniqueness.

What an awesome place to work, wouldn’t you say?

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Section 3: Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams: Delegation and Growth

Biases aside, Jana’s one of the most resilient and adaptable people around, and the proof lies in how she’s grown as a business owner and employer. When YLT Translations began, Jana was completely hands-on, juggling every single task on her own. “Delegation was my number one biggest problem,” Jana admits. “I wanted to hold on to everything, but it became clear I couldn’t grow the company that way.”

Now, Jana’s an empowered leader that focuses on strategic growth. She has realized she doesn’t need to manage every little thing. This is an important lesson for every entrepreneur: trust your team. Ask your team for help. It’s the best way to keep your team involved and responsible for the growth of the company.

The turning point was during Jana’s first vacation to Japan after starting YLT. Anticipating disaster, Jana reluctantly handed over operational responsibilities to a trusted former colleague while she went offline for two weeks.

“When I came back, I was terrified,” she recalls. “I thought my business was done for. Instead, he told me, ‘Everything’s fine. The company’s running smoothly.’ It was a revelation – I didn’t have to do it all myself.”

You see, work-life balance isn’t just for your virtual team; it’s for you, as well, dearest business owner. Embrace delegation not as a weakness, but as a necessity for growth. Today, Jana works a few hours a day, focusing on big-picture strategies while her team members handle the day-to-day operations. “You have to trust your team to keep the pulse of the company alive,” she explains. “But staying connected – checking in occasionally – ensures things don’t stagnate.”

The best remote work environments are built on trust and collaboration. Set clear expectations, and believe in each team member’s dedication to your cause, understanding that they will perform their jobs well – and to your satisfaction.

Trust and delegation go a long way.

Suffice it to say, Jana’s shift in mindset transformed YLT Translations. In its first year, the company grew from 5 team members to 25, achieving 5x growth in just 12 months. Today, YLT has more than 85 team members spread out across the globe.

“Delegation was a game changer for us,” Jana admits. “It allowed me to focus on scaling the company, and everything just started happening one after another.”

Even the challenges of the post- pandemic landscape couldn’t derail YLT’s momentum. Jana credits the company’s strong infrastructure and cohesive team culture for their ability to recover and thrive. “I went back to the drawing board after COVID,” she shares. “If you’ve built something once, you can build it again. You just need to apply the lessons learned and trust your team to execute.”

We love this quote from Jana’s podcast with Seller Labs: “Everyone should dare to dream big. What’s stopping you from having a fantastic life instead of a decent one?”

So go build something extraordinary through effective remote management.

Speaking of a fantastic life, did you know that cultural competence is a valuable skill – not just for engaging worldwide customers, but from the perspective of effective human resources and managing teams?

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Section 4: Key Takeaway Tips for Managing Remote Workers

Managing a global team spread across many different time zones is no small feat, but Jana’s approach has turned this challenge into a key strength for YLT Translations. Her success stems from building a strong culture, empowering her team through delegation, and celebrating achievements to inspire loyalty and motivation.

Here are Ten Top Tips to Allay the Challenges of Remote Teams:

1. Foster Belonging: Jana hosts annual meet-ups to encourage the team to get to know each other and collaborate better. It’s all about the team culture. “(Team culture) is the glue that keeps everyone together,” she says. “It’s about showing that you care. Small gestures like asking, ‘how’s your dog?’ or remembering their favorite travel destination can mean the world.”
2. Personalize Interactions: Just like Jana, keep a database of your employees’ personal details. Let’s face it; being in a remote workforce can get lonely, as you’re deprived of the human interactions that a face-to-face workplace affords. When you have a boss that is interested in you, and the little things that matter to you, this means a lot.
3. Communicate Regularly: Use platforms like Slack to maintain open, transparent communication across the team. You don’t even have to restrict Slack and messenger to collaboration tools, either; how about weekly contests on the “best GIF of the week” or “cutest pet”? Slack does have a “random” channel built in, after all!
4. Celebrate Wins: Jana’s amazing at this. She brings light and positivity to a fully remote environment by publicly recognizing employees that have done a good job. “When you celebrate wins in front of the whole team, it hits differently,” she points out.
5. Delegate Strategically: Empower team members to handle tasks autonomously while you focus on big-picture growth. “Trust your team to grow the business with you,” Jana shares. “Don’t be the bottleneck – your company’s pulse depends on your team working efficiently without you micromanaging.”
6. Create Clear Systems: Build detailed knowledge bases and onboarding processes to ensure consistency and efficiency. The other benefit of solid SOPs and project management workflows is that it helps you onboard new hires with ease. You spend less time training from scratch, and more time coaching and managing new employees.
7. Use Technology Wisely: Enhance your productivity with tools like Google Sheets, Microsoft PowerPoint, and AI carousels to streamline team management. A good reliable stack of management software that suits your personal management style is so important for managers of remote teams. It helps you encourage real-time communication, manage time zones, and stay on top of deliverables.
8. Encouraging Bonding: Can’t organize face-to-face meetups? That’s okay. Many remote teams employ virtual team-building. There are so many different fun activities that can make remote working enjoyable. Think about Friday afternoon bonding sessions (beer is optional!), highlighting the different nationalities and cultural nuances of the members of your team by inviting them to present their favorite parts of their country, or even trivia games. These are so effective in bringing the team together. Remember, team meetings don’t have to be a chore!
9.  Prioritize Feedback: Provide regular, constructive feedback to guide and support your team’s development. Also, ask for feedback from them. Who knows, they may have insights on how to scale your business more efficiently and faster.
10. Trust Your Team: Give employees the freedom to solve problems and take ownership of their roles!

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Section 5: YLT Translations’ Productivity During Remote Management Translates Over to You

So, the proof is in the pudding. YLT Translations is dedicated to more than just translating words – we’re in the business of delivering success. And our team of happy translators, all of whom feel recognized and acknowledged for the amazing work they do, delivers success each and every time. We honestly truly believe that happy employees make happy customers, and we’re determined to spread this light wherever we go.

Under Jana’s visionary leadership, YLT has redefined what it means to provide exceptional service and professionalism. From supporting private label sellers taking their first international steps to working with global giants like Crocs and National Geographic, YLT Translations ensures that every client receives unparalleled attention to detail and personalized care.

So, since your brand deserves a global stage, give us a call; we help you go beyond borders, and create bridges with your customers. That’s right – we do it, each happy remote worker team member here.

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Conclusion: Manage a Remote Team Effectively with Jana’s Example

YLT Translations thrives on the strength of its people, led fearlessly by Jana’s unwavering vision and dedication to building a culture of trust, care, and collaboration, where every single person is seen and acknowledged. From empowering her remote team with personalized interactions and public recognition, to fostering bonds via annual meet-ups and activities, Jana has created a company where employees feel valued – and clients reap the benefits.

Jana’s personal journey form overworked entrepreneur to empowered leader is testament to the power of delegation and trust in scaling a global business.

As Jana shares in her podcast with Seller Labs, effective remote team management isn’t just about logistics; it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive. Transforming challenges into opportunities, crafting a sense of belonging – all of these have contributed to YLT’s meteoric rise as a leader in eCommerce localization, helping sellers connect with global audiences.

So, whether you’re looking to scale your Amazon business on a global scale, or managing a team of remote employees looking for actionable strategies to boost performance, Jana’s insights are a testament to dreaming big and leading with heart.

After all, as she says, “It’s not just about being an employer; it’s about being a decent person, showing (the team) they’re valued.”

Don’t forget to check the podcast out!

We hope this article gave you some really good tips on managing remote teams! Uncover more business tips from Jana on Business Scaling Success: Insights from Jana on Building the Right Team.