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There’s one global leader whose team has been thriving for centuries. And as his Holiday season is here, you guessed it: it’s Santa Claus. With quick deadlines and adaptable approaches worldwide, he knows a thing or two about global team building.
Luckily, we received a few insights from Santa’s playbook if you’re looking to expand your operations across borders in the next year.
6 Santa’s notes on global team building
Here are some tips from the man in the red suit to help you with distributed workforce management and recruitment.
1) Hire the right team of elves
When building your global team, focus on finding the right talent for each role. Don’t limit yourself to local markets, there’s a whole world of skilled professionals ready to bring unique perspectives and abilities to your organization. Offshoring can not only bring new perspectives to your team but also cost-efficient solutions.
Note from Santa: Use trusted helpers, like an Employer of Record, to simplify collaborating internationally. They’ll handle employment laws, contracts, and compliance, so you can focus on delivering your best work on time.
2) Plan before recruitment
Santa has one of the tightest deadlines in history, but he still makes it work. That’s because, before the big day, there’s a year-round preparation. So, when managing a global team, align projects to forecast growth in new markets and overcome adversities.
Note from Santa: Set clear timelines, assign responsibilities, and use project management tools to stay on track. And remember: flexibility is key in case you hit an unexpected snowstorm (or deadline delay).
3) Avoid being on the naughty list
In global team building, international regulation can put you on the naughty list if you don’t deal with legal compliance properly. You could be sued and get fined if you misclassify employees, or don’t adhere to their local labor regulations.
Note from Santa: Santa Claus may be magical, but even he can’t break the rules. Managing international compliance can get tricky, but you can delegate such tasks to international collaborators as well. This is especially efficient when gathering regional expertise in new countries.
4) Build a smooth onboarding process
Getting your team operating smoothly like clockwork is no easy feature. A streamlined onboarding process for your global hires ensures they hit the ground running (or flying) from day one.
Note from Santa: Provide clear training, expectations, and resources. Consider cultural differences in learning styles and make sure new hires have access to mentors or team buddies.
5) Outsource when necessary
For global team building, outsourcing processes like payroll, recruitment, or HR management can free up time and resources. This strategy can also help you across different time zones and cultures.
Note from Santa: Consider working with contractors or third-party providers for specialized tasks. Whether hiring temporary workers for seasonal projects or outsourcing administrative burdens, delegating wisely helps your team stay efficient and focused.
6) Optimize your global expansion
On Christmas Eve, Santa doesn’t travel to any places randomly, he has a plan. It’s important to monitor cost-efficient regions for business growth and talent recruitment.
Note from Santa: Business expansion opportunities in Latin America and the Middle East can help you find top talent at competitive costs. Technology now allows you to easily build a diverse and engaged team.
Extra tip: don’t forget remote workers during the Holidays
Studies conducted by the Institute of Leadership and Management show that the primary advantage of celebrating with colleagues during Christmas is fostering team bonding (82%) while enhancing personal well-being is another notable benefit (57%).
The holiday season can sometimes amplify feelings of isolation for remote employees. To counter this, consider organizing casual virtual meetups and expressing gratitude for their contributions, much like you would with colleagues in a traditional office setting.
Considering the importance of holiday gatherings for global team building, finding alternative methods to sustain engagement and connection in virtual environments is crucial.
