Leading remotely during difficult times such as these is becoming the new norm!
How can you as a leader do this effectively?
Daniel Seligman, Director of Inside Sales at Platterz shared best practices on LinkedIn recently and there are a few I wanted to share: ~
Morning meeting (daily) - See and speak to the team every morning. Provide company updates, shoutouts and personal information.
1:1s (weekly) - 30-minute meeting with your manager’s undivided attention.
Cribs (2x week*) - Let employees take the team on a tour of their homes. Great way to connect on a different level.
Gametime (2x week*) - A 10-minute mental break with the team. We have been using GameMonk through Slack.
Yoga (weekly*) - EOD on Wednesday we host a company-wide yoga session. Great way to decompress and workout from home as a team.
Establishing routines or opportunities for engagement and availability to your team is critical.
This also provides leaders with the ability to share more about themselves on a personal level and get to know their team differently. Being approachable and empathetic can make difficult times easier.
Howard Prager with HCI shares a few key strategies to help you as a leader when leading remotely:
Important to remember this is not business as usual, nor is working remotely a vacation day, but this is how things will be for a while. These are different times. People are worried. Maybe you or your staff have parents or elderly relatives they are concerned about, children who are now at home because of closed schools, and the greater challenges of everyday life. An increased number of people are home using the internet so you may be challenged to find good internet access as students take more online classes. That can be an easy fix by putting nonessential connected devices on guest mode.
Second, manage your own state of mind. You can’t be a great listener and coach if you have your own concerns and needs. Be sure to center yourself through meditation or the outlet that works best for you and then focus on what needs to happen today.
Third, listen to understand. Be aware of any challenges individual staff and your team are facing. Be available for them and let them know the best ways to reach you, and Identify tools, resources and processes to help them. Serve as a coach, troubleshooter and supporter. Share information and updates – everyone is eager for the newest information.
We are in this together and there is no rule book. Lead with empathy, offer support and be kind!
Want to learn more now? Contact us for your complimentary consultation.