The current global situation has accelerated the trend towards remote working, however many businesses and leaders are struggling to adapt to this new way of life. We have all been working remotely for a while now and I personally don’t think this is going to end anytime soon! This makes it critical to lead and manage team virtually and efficiently.
Virtual leadership is a form of leadership in which teams are managed via a remote working environment. Like traditional leadership roles, virtual leaders focus on motivating employees and helping teams accomplish their goals.
Working remotely means leaders can no longer have casual conversations in the conference rooms or in the hallways, but it’s entirely possible to translate in-person leadership skills into virtual skills, so that you can continue that human connection with your team. Strong leadership is essential for creating a business culture that’s productive, innovative, and able to adapt to an ever-changing professional landscape. There are four critical areas for leaders to introspect while leading teams virtually:
First is self – role understanding, one’s strengths against the role and managing emotional challenges of transition;
Second is the team and talent management and the
Third is managing relationships.
Given the current scenario, the fourth critical challenge is also the capability to lead in a virtual environment.
Based on my personal experience, here are some key pointers for leaders managing teams virtually –
Communication and Collaboration
Use the appropriate channels for your communication and set expectations on how various communication channels are to be used. Discuss when it’s appropriate to use instant message, email, and webcam meetings. Understand when a meeting is necessary versus a quick group announcement. No one likes attending hour-long meetings when the question could be addressed more efficiently in an email or a chat.
Encourage collaboration! It can be easy for remote team members to become withdrawn from the group and push through tasks alone. You can promote teamwork by collaborating yourself. Leading by example is a great way to get your fellow team members onboard.
Emotional Intelligence
Building strong relationships is one of the most important things you can do as a virtual leader. Stronger connections will improve culture, collaboration, and engagement levels in your organization. Plan for regular connects with various levels of the teams and not just directs.
Leading With Empathy
When you conversate with your team, be sure to pay extra attention to verbal and non-verbal cues. When having conversations, encourage the use of a webcam to see the other person’s facial expression and build that connection. Always be available on webcams, and plan the meets in advance which will help the team to be ready for the meeting.
Augment With Online Tools
Maximize your tools. Use the tools you already have! Whether that be a communication channel, document sharing site, or project management tool, use these tools to your advantage. But this also requires digital literacy. Make sure you and the members of your team understand how to use the tools. You don’t want this to become another hurdle, so take some time for specific tools training if you need it.
"Virtual is not a synonym for invisible"
Someday a new form of normalcy will evolve. In what shape and in what form is undetermined, but we know that we will need leaders to guide us. Leaders who are present throughout these challenging times will be those who set the course for our new tomorrow.
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