Greetings from Singapore! Today I find myself in one of the world’s smallest but strongest countries in our global economy. Singapore has been a welcomed stop on my yearlong journey to PGi’s EMEA and APAC offices. Nowhere on earth can you find a higher concentration of 5-star shopping, gourmet street food, or award-winning gardens.

Squeezing in some work on the bus to Singapore.

Since we arrived last week, we’ve greatly appreciated how easy it is to work here. Not only do I have an office to work in, but the internet is excellent, cab fares are reasonable, air conditioning abounds and cell reception is close to perfect. Some might call it a Digital Nomad’s paradise.

But if you’ve ever worked outside the office, you know that internet and AC aren’t the only things you need to make remote working a success. It takes the right personality and most importantly, your team’s support.

While in Asia Pacific I’ve relied heavily on my team in Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA to help make the most of my time overseas. I’ve realized that these teleworker accommodations are not “built-in” to most teams; instead they are learned through experience.

With the rise of the mobile workforce, it’s a rare occurrence to have your entire team in the same office. So instead of offering tips for the aspiring Digital Nomad this week, I’m gearing today’s post to those in the traditional office setting, who work alongside their remote colleagues.

Here are five ways to make your remote colleagues feel part of the team and keep business moving at the speed of light.

Be Human. Instead of dialing your remote team members in via Blackberry speaker phone, include them as if they were there to join in person. Find a room where you can get the whole team on webcam and make sure the microphone is strong enough to pick up everyone’s voice. Nothing has made the distance fade faster, than a good video conference with my team.

Be Mobile. Set your teleworkers up for success by working with productivity and conferencing tools that accommodate a mobile work environment. Whether it’s a teleworker, home office employee or team member in the field, having the ability to respond to a ticket, view a presentation on a web conference app or dial into a meeting on the fly can be the difference between a successful remote working experience and a failed attempt.

Be Global. If your team is separated by a 13 hour time difference, when is the best time to schedule a meeting?  Trick question! Although there is rarely an ideal time to meet when your half-way around the world, the show must go on so respond to your remote workers’ emails first and schedule meetings during hours when they are most likely awake. Your team can quickly resolve small issues over email and use any overlap time to collaborate “in person” via video as opposed to week-long email chains. You can also accomodate your remote workers by ensuring global dial-in details are in the meeting request or better yet, work with meeting solutions that offer VoIP or global dial-in/dial-out options.

Be Inclusive. Nothing’s worse than being on the other end of a conference call and having no idea who’s talking, what they just said or why everyone is laughing. Remote workers can feel as if they are a thousand miles away, so make them feel welcome by ensuring everyone speaks clearly, one person at a time, and side-conversations are kept to a minimum.

Be Social. Bring your remote workers into the conversation by asking them how they’re doing, make sure they have an opportunity to add to the discussion and don’t forget to fill them in on the latest office happenings or inside jokes. Although these tips might appear trivial, I can assure you they will make for happier, more satisfied and productive remote workers.

Is your team “geographically diverse?” What advice would you give to those new to working with a remote team?