You're struggling to build trust and collaboration with your team. What can you do to improve the situation?

1 Communicate frequently and clearly

Communication is key to any successful team, but it can be tricky when you work in different locations, time zones, or modes. To avoid misunderstandings, confusion, or conflicts, you need to communicate frequently and clearly with your team. This means using the right tools and channels, such as phone calls, emails, chats, or video conferences, depending on the urgency and complexity of the issue. It also means sharing relevant information, updates, feedback, and expectations with your team, and listening to their concerns, questions, and suggestions. By communicating frequently and clearly, you can build rapport, trust, and understanding with your team.

2 Align your goals and priorities

Another way to improve trust and collaboration with your team is to align your goals and priorities. As a field service engineer, you may have different objectives and tasks than your colleagues, but you also share a common vision and mission. To ensure that everyone is on the same page, you need to clarify your roles and responsibilities, and how they contribute to the overall success of the team and the client. You also need to coordinate your actions and plans with your team, and respect their deadlines and preferences. By aligning your goals and priorities, you can create a sense of cohesion, accountability, and cooperation with your team.

4 Learn and grow with your team

One more way to improve trust and collaboration with your team is to learn and grow with them. As a field service engineer, you have a lot of technical skills and knowledge, but you can always improve and expand them. You can do this by seeking feedback, asking questions, sharing best practices, or taking training courses with your team. You can also learn from your team's diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. By learning and growing with your team, you can foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and mutual respect.

5 Resolve conflicts constructively

Finally, you can improve trust and collaboration with your team by resolving conflicts constructively. As a field service engineer, you may encounter some disagreements, disputes, or tensions with your team, due to different opinions, expectations, or styles. To avoid letting these conflicts escalate or damage your relationship, you need to address them promptly, calmly, and respectfully. You need to listen to your team's point of view, empathize with their feelings, and acknowledge their needs. You also need to express your own thoughts, feelings, and needs, and seek a win-win solution that satisfies both parties. By resolving conflicts constructively, you can strengthen your trust and collaboration with your team.