"Come on, come on, let's stick together!"

Well, holy mother of Pokémon. 

How are you doing amidst all the turbulence that surrounds us right now? With so many aspects of our lives turned upside down - both personally and professionally - for many that's bringing with it some big emotions. We had a bit of a meltdown here at Dowling HQ this weekend (my fault for going to a supermarket)… although feeling back on two feet now. Thanks to a little help from friends and family.

“Come on, come on, let’s stick together”

(Thank you, Bryan Ferry.)

I wanted to offer you an invitation to join an online community that I'm setting up - one aimed at enhancing the collective experience of remote teams. 

Some of my friends are saying, “Remote teaming? Hah, we’ve been doing this for years!” They are the ones posting photos of their teams cheerfully engaging in web calls on social media. 

Meanwhile, others are asking big questions such as, “How do I turn on my camera?” And, “Am I still on mute?” 

Regardless of which group you’re in, here’s my rallying cry: let’s all band together to enhance the collective experience of remote teaming!! No team member should have to experience bad virtual teaming. It’s 2020* people! (* Although I am quite happy to skip this year and fast forward to 2021. Actually, 2019 would be fine too. Anyone else?)

I reckon there’s a real opportunity to bridge that divide and help everyone to get comfortable with working apart - and to avoid some of the things that trip up remote teams. 

To that end, I’ve set up a Facebook Group called Remote Teaming Hub - a shared space in which people can share their tips and suggestions, as well as to pose questions and seek advice. I’d love you to be part of it - join the Group and jump straight in by responding to one of the kick-off questions, or posing a new question of your own. We’re not just looking for expert contribution, but people’s personal experiences and preferences. It’s also a great forum for us to post up shared resources that people can draw on as they lean right into the experience of remote teaming. 

Above all, I’m hoping this can be a way to create a community of people who are sharing a common experience, regardless of their background or context.

What do you say? See you there?

Virtual is virtually the same: upcoming webinar

Right now, the obvious thing to do is to cancel all group meetings, workshops and other events. But is that the right choice?

Not necessarily. In fact, this is the time when continuing to spend time in groups is incredibly important - to avoid people losing a sense of team and becoming isolated.

And here’s the good news: virtual is virtually the same. We have the technology. All it takes is some careful design to make the experience as interactive and inclusive as it would be in person (perhaps even more so!).

So please take a moment before cancelling the next group activity and ask yourself: with a bit of design, could this still work if we did it online?

And if the answer is: "I totally get it Simon, but I’m always looking for more ideas about how to run a great virtual meeting or workshops” then guess what...? Join me for a live and interactive webinar next Wednesday 25 March at 11.00am AEDT. It runs for an hour, and I’ll take you through my top tips and ideas for running great virtual meetings and workshops. 

Register here (Oh, and wait, it’s free! #yayfreestuff)

Speaking of virtual goodness...

You may have already seen it, because it’s gone crazy on the socials this last 24 hours, but there’s an incredible new online conference kicking off tomorrow (Wednesday 18th) called VID19. It’s the brainchild of the inspiring Julia Steel and promises 19 consecutive days of presentations and events, featuring 336 contributors. All. Totally. Free. #yayfreestuff

This really is unprecedented, people. The line up of presenters for the first 3 days alone is unlike anything you’ll ever get at a live event. Presenters such as Matt Church (leadership), Gabrielle Dolan (storytelling), Lynne Cazaly (adapting to change), Shane Michael Hatton (communication), Dr Amy Silver (dealing with fear), Jane Anderson (online strategy), Mikey Ellis (culture), Sharon Natoli (nutrition and health)… the list goes on for a country freakin' mile. I don’t know about you, but I'm worried I won't get anything else done for the next 19 days!  #jokingnotjoking

And me? I’ll be presenting my session on Friday 20 March at 10.00am AEDT on “Making Bold: Creating the conditions for teams to thrive” - which is especially relevant right now.

So jump onto the VID19 conference site, take a look at the sessions on offer, and register for the ones you like. Even better, share the link with friends and family who need a bit of inspiration and education in their days while working from home. (Let’s face it, Netflix is only good for so long…)

And one last seed to plant…

Stay tuned, because I’ll launching an online offering of my Positive Influence program in the next week - something I’m genuinely excited about.

It’s an 8-part program that will take participants on a practical learning journey - combining both live, interactive sessions with watch-at-your-own-pace modules and exercises. I want to ensure participants truly develop new skills, not just listen to a bunch of ideas.

With that in mind, I will be offering the program to one small cohort at a time, capped at around 16 people. This provides an excellent opportunity for the first group to shape the content and design of the program.

If you think that’s something you or your team may be interested in, please let me know and I’ll make sure you’re the first to know the details as I release them!

* * * *

Okay, that's it from me. I hope this leaves you feeling a little lighter about the new normal we all find ourselves in.

Don't forget to jump on and join the Remote Teaming Hub, and of course to share it far and wide if you think there's others in your world who would benefit from being part of this community. 

Catch you soon!

Simon

simondowling.com.au

PS. In case you didn't catch it, check out my latest Making Bold video, which went live on the 'Tube a week or so ago. In this one, I talk about team connection (how timely!) and debunk the myth that there's no "I" in team... in fact, there are 3 of them!