Written by: Patrick Brown, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We live in an era of major developments and changes. Time requires organizations to adjust their conventional organizational forms and legacy methods of managing people.
That is, if you want to keep up with the changes, you must innovate your approaches and adapt to evolving markets. Build a team that responds to all obstacles and challenges in a multilayered manner while keeping the characteristics of various markets in mind.
Keep reading to discover the benefits of global business teams. We also share strategies for management and techniques for overcoming potential challenges.
Advantages of a Global Business Team
Organizations that embrace an international workforce are more likely to find the best candidates and retain top talent. Explore three benefits of a global business team.
1. Cultural Diversity
Global teams foster a diverse and welcoming company culture. Research shows that diverse companies are 36% more likely to outperform less diverse competitors financially. Companies with a diverse workforce have a broader understanding and a wider range of perspectives than most homogeneous environments, resulting in more innovative solutions.
2. Higher Productivity
Productivity is one of the top advantages of global teams. Teams operating in varying time zones perform tasks around the clock, improving project turnaround time.
You can leave tasks before the workday ends and rest assured that your staff will finish them before you return to the office the following day.
3. International Market Knowledge
A global business team is a catalyst for growth and global expansion. For one, a U.S. company attempting to market in the Philippines benefits most from having a team of local talent because they know the customs, regulations, laws, and demands of potential clients. Speaking the native language helps them build stronger connections with the target market.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing a Global Business Team
Nearshoring and offshoring are some ways to integrate a global business team. Regardless, most international teams work remotely across different time zones, giving companies a better reach. However, this comes with some challenges.
Here are techniques for overcoming common issues:
Communication Issues
An obvious challenge with global businesss teams is that team members are not physically present. With a lack of face-to-face interaction, communication is less effective, especially when monitoring how they cope with work challenges.
Solutions:
Encourage staff to use messaging tools.
Create a non-work channel for everyone to get to know each other.
Set a 10-minute informal chat before starting virtual meetings.
Cultural Barriers
Different countries have varying ways of doing business. Some might be more formal, while others might favor a more relaxed setup. Some language barriers arise with global teams.
Solutions:
Set work tone, finding middle ground between what you and the team want.
Get to know your staff by having them introduce themselves and the ways their culture differs from yours.
Use simple English terms and expressions to avoid wasting time translating.
Performance Tracking Problems
Performance monitoring becomes a challenge, especially with team members out of the office.
Solutions:
Make deliverables and objectives clear in each project stage.
Focus on results-based performance tracking instead of an hourly work system.
Top Destinations for a Global Business Team
Businesses have various destination options to choose from when building a global team. Here are the most common hubs for integrating an international business team:
1. India
India remains a top destination when building a global business team. The country ranked second on Tholons’ Top 50 Digital Nations list in 2021.
What makes India a top destination?
Cost savings
Large talent pool
Commonly outsourced services:
Software development
Software engineering
Back-office services
Average salary: $425 per month based on the 2021 exchange rate
2. Philippines
The Philippines is the second-best outsourcing location in the world. It has retained its title of “the BPO capital of the world” for more than a decade. Companies such as IBM, Wells Fargo, and Microsoft built their global business team in the country. The country also ranked 22nd out of 111 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index.
What makes the Philippines a top destination?
Advanced English proficiency
Strong government support
Commonly outsourced services:
Customer service
IT support
Data entry
Back-office services
Average salary: $885 per month based on the 2021 exchange rate
3. Mexico
Mexico is a popular emerging hub for global business teams. It secured the eighth rank on Tholons’ 2021 Top 50 Digital Nations list.
What makes Mexico an emerging hub?
Closer time zones to the U.S.
High retention rate
Commonly outsourced services:
Human resources
Customer support
IT services
Average salary: $1,530 per month based on the 2021 exchange rate
Average Cost of Managing a Global Business Team
The price of outsourcing a global business team is based on the cost per employee.
Staff pay – base pay for each employee
Staff perks – company and government benefits
Management fee – expenses involved in the operation, including infrastructure and office fees
Building a global business team through outsourcing lets you choose a pricing structure that suits your needs.
Pricing Plan | Project Scale |
Cost-based | Large-scale projects All requirements are prepared Management fees, staffing, and infrastructure costs equate to the price you pay The service provider manages the business for you |
Fixed project
| Small-scale projects Cost-effective and low-risk You can plan budget allocation in advance Best for design services and web-based research |
Production-based | Unit-based projects such as data conversion services and blog writing Each output is treated as a unit Efficient and cost-saving because the staff is compensated based on the number of outputs produced |
The total price also differs depending on the location you choose. For example, offshoring is more cost-efficient than nearshoring. You can hire a web developer in the Philippines for an average of $595 per month in comparison to the $5,808 U.S. average.
Strategies To Effectively Manage a Global Team
Finding common ground and looking past differences are key when building a global business team. Encouraging open communication while sharing mentoring and learning opportunities is also important. Here are three strategies:
Set a schedule to meet with the whole team. Department-wide meetings can be a rare occurrence, but you should not drop them completely. Team members need video calls to share knowledge, bond, collaborate, and build rapport. Make the most of your team meetings by developing a clear plan and framework.
Create meaningful connections and foster trust. Global team members are more likely to stay when they work with people who communicate regularly. Hence, you should get to know employees’ interests and career goals and the challenges they’ve encountered. Make them feel comfortable when asking you questions and foster transparency.
Keep resources accessible to all. Ensuring all necessary resources are available to each team member is key to success. Use knowledge base software to give employees access to important documents, regardless of their location. A knowledge base keeps work moving and empowers workers.
Final Thoughts
Integrating global teams has clear benefits: global teams are efficient, flexible, and more cost-effective.
While international employees have many advantages, building a team is just the beginning. You need the right tools and technology to effectively manage members, collaborate, and measure progress. You also need the right BPO partner to help you find skilled professionals who can help you achieve your business goals.
Patrick Brown, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Patrick Brown is the founder and CEO of Unity Communications, an award-winning BPO service provider operating globally. As a leader, he has built an international organization that serves clients across the globe, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
With recognition on the Forbes Next 1000 list in 2021, Brown's vision and leadership have made his BPO company a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
But Brown's journey to success didn't begin with Unity Communications. He kicked off his career in the U.S. Navy and eventually rose to the rank of IT director for USS John S. McCain DDG-56. After leaving the military, Brown worked with renowned telecommunications companies such as Cox Communications, Mitel, and XO Communications.
His international exposure, interest in technology, and passion for entrepreneurship led him to start his own business in 2009. And he has since grown Unity Communications into the thriving BPO company it is today.
Despite the demanding nature of running a business, Brown believes in fostering a work-life balance for his employees. He himself also dedicates time to his own family and personal hobbies. In fact, he often competes in sanctioned IRONMAN events throughout the world as a way to acquire goal orientation and develop mental fortitude.
Patrick Brown believes that investing in people, leading a disciplined life, and not being afraid to fail are the keys to success.
