Working remotely can be challenging, especially when you need to communicate and collaborate effectively with your team. How do you keep everyone on the same page, engaged, and productive? Here are some tips to help you succeed in online teamwork.
The first step is to choose the right tools for your team's needs. You want to have a reliable and secure platform for video calls, chats, file sharing, and project management. Some popular options are Zoom, Slack, Google Drive, and Trello. Make sure everyone knows how to use them and agrees on the best practices and etiquette.
The next step is to set clear goals and expectations for your team. You want to have a shared vision, mission, and strategy that guide your work. You also want to define the roles, responsibilities, and deadlines for each task and project. Communicate these clearly and regularly to your team and check in on their progress and feedback.
When developing team norms, responsibilities etc., I've found it helpful to involve all team members to participate and share their opinions and ideas, so there is a sense of shared ownership in achieving the team’s goals.
Employees (well, people in general) respond best when things happen with them rather than to them. If you show up with everything decided, be prepared for low adoption and push-back.
The third step is to be flexible and respectful of your team's diversity and preferences. You want to accommodate different time zones, work styles, and communication styles. You also want to respect your team's boundaries, privacy, and work-life balance. Avoid micromanaging, overloading, or interrupting your team and trust them to do their best.
The fourth step is to communicate effectively and frequently with your team. You want to have a mix of synchronous and asynchronous communication that suits your team's needs. You also want to use different modes of communication, such as voice, text, video, and emojis, to convey your tone, emotions, and intentions. Be clear, concise, and polite in your messages and avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
Chat apps, like Slack or Teams, are great for communicating and they can also be obnoxious. Think of messaging as physically sitting on the other side of someone's desk facing them. Would you continually interrupt them verbally if you were looking directly at them? Probably not (if so, that's a different problem entirely). That's what it feels like being on the other side of a never ending chat, except they can't ask you to leave their office. Be considerate.
I've found it helpful to give whatever I'm writing an emotional read through. Writing "Can we talk?" over text or Slack might spark unintentional anxiety for the other person, when the conversation will actually be light and happy.
The fifth step is to collaborate creatively and inclusively with your team. You want to have a culture of innovation, learning, and feedback that fosters teamwork and problem-solving. You also want to involve everyone in the decision-making process and value their opinions and contributions. Use brainstorming, voting, and polling tools to generate ideas and consensus.
Be aware that voting, polling, and concensus can go too far. You can easily end up with the least controversial idea, rather than the best idea, and that's nit good for anyone. Have a designated person as the final decision maker and foster an atmosphere where everyone can get behind the idea and make it successful.
The sixth step is to celebrate and appreciate your team. You want to have a sense of camaraderie, recognition, and fun that motivates and inspires your team. You also want to show your gratitude and appreciation for your team's efforts and achievements. Use praise, rewards, shout-outs, and games to acknowledge and celebrate your team.