Food, check. Water, check. Toilet paper, check. Netflix, check. Computer, check. Remote access, check. Managing from a distance? Um. Leadership online? Hmmm. Yes, that’s what we are seeing in this new and 
somewhat abrupt situation we find ourselves in. Fortunately, we have the creature comforts and hopefully a few loved ones that are driving you crazy but how are you managing and leading your teams? Now that they are safely tucked away in their homes albeit set up for remote work they are still needing leadership, direction, delegation, and motivation to stay engaged and empowered for the team.
While we do have the inherent trust that our teams will show up for remote meetings, keep project management platforms updated, and participate in Slack conversations. The current situation requires a different type of management style while in the remote environment. It demands flexibility, creativity, and willingness to level up our management skillsets. Emotional intelligence is a wonderful attribute for leadership but empathy alone does not keep the team productive and engaged.
Whatever type of team practice you manage- software, agile, business analyst, IT, etc. there are some core techniques and tactics that can be applied that will guarantee a streamlined transition from office to remote. Below I’ve presented some common situation analysis that has been circling around in my coaching and training meetings and some ideas and actions around how to address these situations. I’ve found that a few simple yet powerful adjustments can make a world of difference in our communications including deepening our relationships with team members. I can only imagine what our teams will have adjusted to after this situation remedied.
Connection and Curiosity
- Feeling disconnected from your team? The same rapport will be challenging to emulate in the remote workspace. Those casual yet meaningful “drive-bys” won’t happen without intention. Take a proactive approach to create virtual versions of these casual moments. Developing a set of rituals for your team will be a foundation set into motion of how things will run.
- How can I avoid the homogenization of introverts and extroverts on my team? Understanding and meeting the needs that cater to both introverts and extroverts on the team is essential. Their roles on the team reflect their personalities so with that foresight, take it another step further and know that one may need to have more time on a team call to share while another may want to check in later via instant messaging or chat. Be open to their comfort levels and encourage them to share any nuances of their position with the group.
- What can I change about myself? Remember your favorite coach growing up? Or that favorite teacher? Remember what made them resonate. They were holding you up and showing you your own power, authority, and value. Take this approach with your team. A coaching and teaching mindset will resonant because someone feels empowered, trusted, and believed. Use the mirror effect. Reflect back at them what you see and how hard they work. They will voluntarily come to you for advice, check-ins, and accountability. By doing this you will set an example for the entire team. They will do this for each other as well.
Inclusion and Engagement
Can my virtual meetings be more productive and fun? YES! This is a great opportunity to assign new roles for people and responsibilities related to the remote world. Find ways to include someone in on smaller team-building projects. Partner members up with someone they usually don’t get to spend time within the office. Experiment with roles where applicable.- Need proven techniques to engage participants in virtual meetings? Beware the remote version of getting meeting-ed to death. Have an open discussion about how meetings will change to ensure people have ample time to perform their jobs beyond the meetings. The short meet and greets in the morning will be vital for communication and assign someone on the team to be the timekeeper for those meetings.
- Need to boost your own skills in virtual facilitation to model to your team? Leading virtual meetings can slip away from the moderator’s hands in an instant. Review what’s happening at a high level. Are there opportunities to shift the meeting from Zoom to Slack and have more chat dialogue instead of holding everyone on the call while two people talk.
- What about our revenue goals? Remind the team why and what you are working towards. Empower them to perform their jobs well because they are necessary at this time. A few daily words of encouragement go a long way. Feelings of isolation and anxiety can slide into the quality of their work so be aware of what is being delivered and address it immediately.
LEADER OF ONE TO LEADER OF FUN!
- The more everyone knows the better they can respond and collaborate with each other. Ice breakers aren’t just for networking with strangers. Begin meetings with a fun fact or funny anecdote to warm up the call before hitting that agenda hard. Have people report on a personal win for each day. Did they score toilet paper? Did they promote their cat to the head of HR? Be vulnerable as a leader and share something personal too. Remember those inside jokes in the office? Bring them into the remote world.
- Tired of the word meetings? Change the name! Create a new version of casual Friday but dressing up in a tuxedo or your wedding dress. The element of surprise is powerful at building rapport and creating moments. Encourage others to be creative as well. Lunchtime bingo anyone? Happy hour BYOB is always a hit. Who says Halloween is only in October?
A few articles that I have found helpful on this subject:
- Harvard Business Review – 15 Questions Answered about Remote Work
- Forbes – Sensitive Leaders Guide to Managing Remote Teams
- SC Media – Tips for Managing Teams in a Pandemic
I hope this information was helpful and inspirational. I invite you to join me on March 31 & April 1, 2020, 11 am – 12:30 pm PST each day. Two 90 min online live sessions where we will explore more of these techniques and tactics and how to apply them instantly plus one follow up accountability call. This course gets to the details and provides practice answers! See the course outline below. Register Here, use code LEAD20 for a special 20% offer.
Continue to check our website for new dates on this and other courses posted weekly.
Live Online Format Details:
- Conducted in an online LIVE session style not a conventional webinar!
- Everyone on Zoom (Video on)! Prepare to participate!
- Active chat, annotation, and small group breakouts engage students in roleplaying content
- Everyone expected to be fully engaged in the class on video, chat, and small groups.
SESSION 1 – 90 min – March 31st, 11am-12:30 pm PST
Better remote team/group meetings
- Leveraging online tools for meetings – Go way beyond a typical conference call!
- Team status meetings
- Problem solving as a group
- Consensus building and decision making
Better remote 1:1 relationships with each team member
- Checking in
- Holding team members accountable
- Understanding their pains and gains
- Encouraging collaboration with others
- Swarming
SESSION 2 – 90 min – April 1st, 11am-12:30 pm PST
Tips to get the team collaborating with one another
- Time Blocks (meetings vs. work) for knowledge workers
- Encourage catch-ups with one another (15 min coffee)
- Chat/Slack/IM back channels
Tips for keeping team and relationships strong
- Virtual coffee/social/happy hour
- Celebrations
- Team Building Activities
Tips to cross-pollinate with other teams and managing up
- Bi-Weekly
- Connect on related projects
- Connect on learnings/successes
- Connect on challenges
- Overcoming working from home challenges
Follow Up Accountability Call (scheduled at the end of Session two)
- Follow up accountability call to share and learn from others on what was implemented and the results!
What you will get as part of the course:
* Online seat to the TWO LIVE ONLINE sessions
* Participant workbook to take notes in (electronically or printed, your choice!)
* Amazing and eye-opening ideas and resources to use to boost your teams’ results!
*Accountability to ensure implementation is successful.