Working remotely might not be so much of a problem, but leading a remote team could be.
The COVID 19 pandemic introduced a new way of living to our life and workspace. A new normal was introduced, working from home became preferred to the traditional system we know of crowding offices. To build a solid remote team, all hands need to be on deck, with leaders putting in more effort.
Who is a Leader?
A leader is a person whose deeds and actions affect the lives of people around them. Leadership is more of mentorship, not bossing. It isn’t just about giving orders and giving instructions; it is about doing it and being emulated as they walk the talk. A leader sees the needs, and he rallies around to meet the requirements.
Leading people has never been an easy task, let alone leading people you can barely see, but this article breaks down the process and eases the new role.
Essential Characteristics of a Remote Leader
To build a remote team, you need to develop yourself as a leader and a remote worker. As a remote leader, you can’t afford to not be good at communication or lack basic knowledge of digital tools that enhance digital productivity.
Learn leadership, learn communication. Yes, communication is learned most, especially if you know you are not a good communicator. Invest in your communication skills because it spells the difference between a remote team and an in-person team.
A remote leader must be a good writer. You need to be able to pass across a message with clarity. Do not forget; you are here to connect the dots. You ought to be an organizer because if you can’t set priorities and organize yourself, you can’t teach it.
Another quality of an excellent remote leader is being productive, applying intelligence in every task and activity, getting things done efficiently and swiftly. Drop every form of procrastination, so reaching goals and meeting targets will not be a problem.
The Challenges of Building a Remote team
Many challenges come with remote jobs. It is essential to know this challenge to be able to sort them out. They range from team communication feeling fragmented, trouble managing time, loneliness, lack of collaboration and time zones, and more.
These challenges do not need to scare you. Knowing them improves helps us build strategies to facilitate and enhance our remote teams’ health. So to be able to lead, you need to see every challenge that the remote team encounters, so you know how to sort the issue when you are faced with it.
Ways to lead your remote team
1. Communication is connection: Communication is key to successful leadership. It is surprising, but it makes everything a lot easier. Communicate more; there is nothing like over communication. Call in as much as you can. You build a comfortable environment through frequent communication. Don’t leave your communication with your team members to chance. Use communication tools like Zoom, Googlemeetup, Google hangs out, and the rest to always reach out.
It is crucial that meetings with our team team members are not ruled out, even though it’s remote. Set meeting dates and ensure everyone makes themselves available.
Build rapport with your team members; strong social connection cannot be overemphasized when building a remote team. Be very intentional about how your team members relate and connect.
You close the gap by conquering every form of virtual distance. Create a bond with your team. The fact that you don’t go to work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know what is going on with your team leads. Reaching out often closes every form of communication gap and builds connection and rapport.
2. State the ground rules: Every organization without an administration is an accident waiting to happen. It is essential to establish clear remote policies. These policies keep team members on track and make them understand the consequence of every disobedience or improper act or absence from meetings and not meeting deadlines. Set the priorities right.
3. Track tasks: Remote jobs come with a lot of tasks and jobs. When you give a task, make sure it is done and done correctly. Don’t overlook any task, no matter how little it is. Create a measure that makes them understand the reason they need to submit every task.
4. Leverage on Technology: Many tech tools make collaborations and communication easy. Embrace the digital world to increase productivity. Tools like hangouts meet and Zoom can be used to hold virtual meetings. Tools like Evernote, OneNote, proofhub can be used for notes taking minutes. There are also task managers like Googletask and Todoist.
5. Break down your goals: Set your eyes on the goal, spell the plans, help them understand the intent, help them meet the objectives. The purpose for every business or organization is to grow, and if they cannot meet these goals, then it is a failed course, and as a leader, you have failed.
6. Be a mentor, not a boss: As a team leader, you are not there to order people around. Leaders serve, you ought to learn to carry everybody along. Sometimes shift your focus from organizational visions and work schedules and to personal and career growth. A mentor
7. Embrace Flexibility: It is remote; it doesn’t have to be 9-5. Make your job timing flexible. I am not saying don’t set aside time for a consistent meeting, but give room for flexibility. Time to not do anything. Time to hang around with your team, play online games, and chat. This isn’t a waste of time; this is building rapport in a different dimension. People tend to gravitate towards people that they are free with. Relationships aren’t built in an authoritative setting, so chill. Authority doesn’t leave an impact; it only causes fear.
8. Show kind gestures: appreciate every effort made. For every job well done, appreciate, send gifts, do not overlook any good work. Encourage all. This encouragement makes them want to do more and commit to their work. And teammates want to be the next partner, so not just the receiver is encouraged; everybody is encouraged.
9. Trust that they can: It is difficult to Trust is a big word, I know, but the difference between a working teammate and an irregular teammate is the trust level placed. Building trust and rapport with team members should be prioritized when leading a remote team. Do not micromanage your team; understand that lack of confidence and independence easily demotivates your team.
Finally,
Leading a remote team can be trusting, but it’s not so much a big deal. Making the move and following these simple steps will make work easier for you. Please do not fail to let us know your strategy to be an effective remote team lead in the comment section.
