Managing what you can't see

10 Things You Can Do This Week

The following are ideas you can implement right away to help develop your remote team and get things done in your business. They are in no particular order, and they apply to you no matter what business you’re in.

Check off the ones you’ve already done. Make plans to implement the ones you haven’t.

There’s one goal you absolutely must achieve: to prepare your tech for video conferencing. This is a key tool for keeping in touch with your team, so do what you need to make sure your tech is current and works smoothly. For example, upgrade your internet connection speed if you need to, check your camera and mic, and sign up for a video conferencing platform such as Zoom, Google meet, MS Teams.??

1. Check that you have the latest version of any project management tools you use e.g. Asana, Basecamp, Monday, Trello, Slack and ensure everyone on your team has access.
2. Create a team roles chart to show who does what and email it to the team or post it on your project management platform.
3. Write down your goals for the week. Then write down who you’ll assign to which task this week. Be realistic about what the person can achieve.
4. Schedule a video call with your team to talk through how they're feeling about your current project. Give each person time to express their ideas. Share your business intentions to give them clarity.
5. Set up a one-on-one call immediately with anyone you feel is especially struggling.
6. Ask each team member to email you with any ideas they might have for better communication systems.
7. Set up frequent one-on-one calls starting this week – 15 to 20 minutes to discuss progress, problems, and concerns. Post the schedule on your team communication tool.
8. Identify any skill gaps in your current projects. Plan how and where to outsource talent, such as Intermix Workforce, Upwork, Freelancer, etc.
9. Record a quick screen capture video to train team members on a process or to demonstrate a complicated task.
10. Brush up your coaching skills, especially active listening and open questioning, so that your video interactions with team members are as effective as possible.