Remote Working – A Leader’s Guide to Maintain Connection and Create Momentum

So, you must send your team home due to COVID-19. What does that mean for you, how will you manage them, how do you keep them engaged, how do you ensure productivity stays up, and morale doesn’t go down? How will you communicate or motivate them, what will they work on, what happens if they need help, how will you be held responsible for their results now?

Here are just a few questions you may be asking yourself if you are new to leading a remote team. However, there is only one question you should consider:

What is the level of trust between you and everyone on your team?

As a leader of remote workers, trust is critical as it is the foundation of creating an open and supportive environment allowing everyone to feel safe to be vulnerable, communicate effectively, stay curious, and motivated to do a job well done. In a recent article by Gallup, called “COVID-19 Has My Teams Working Remotely: A Guide for Leaders,” the author states three things leaders should do as a best practice for leading remote workers:

1. Individualize
2. Communicate and set expectations
3. Support your managers

The article encourages the use of coaching to accomplish these three actions.

We agree. If you would like to build trust, maintain a connection, and create momentum for your remote workers, we believe coaching to be the most effective approach to do so. Below are a few key tips to help you embrace the change and continue confidently leading your team with coaching.

Tip #1: Develop the appropriate mindset – in cases such as these, your team must embody a coaching mindset. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines a coaching mindset as one that is open, curious, flexible, and client-centered. By being open, curious, and flexible, you and your team will be able to design specific actions, create outcomes, and hold one another accountable for results. By being client-centered, you will be able to respect individualism and value each person’s unique contribution to the team.

·    Implementation Challenge: start to encompass a coaching mentality by working with your team to discover what’s possible, create a strategy, and plan actions.

Tip #2: Set goals and co-create the go-forward plan – it is crucial for you and your team to be on the same page about the work that needs to get done and who specifically will do it. Create individual plans to design specific actions and create the outcome together. Doing this allows you as the leader to know what to communicate and your team to expect as it relates to delivering results.

·    Implementation Challenge: establish agreements with each person, be transparent, and open-minded about the new way of working. Be present and available.

Tip #3: Actively listen and create awareness – listen to hear what they are saying and what they are not by paying attention to tone. If on video conferencing, pay attention to body language and facial expressions. Reflect on what your employees are saying by telling them what you are hearing. Create awareness through powerful questioning (i.e., ask open-ended questions, and avoid asking “why”). Ensure your team feels supported, heard, and understood.

·    Implementation Challenge: be curious and facilitative. Ask open-ended questions without leading your employees to a specific conclusion.

Tip #4: Facilitate growth: partner with your employees to achieve their goals. Acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their successes. Hold them accountable by helping them integrate what they learn and work with them to design steps to continue moving forward.

·    Implementation Challenge: be an accountability partner and manage their progress. Create a coaching plan and ensure it stays updated.

Transitioning to remote working can be difficult and frustrating. However, it creates an opportunity for you and your team to grow. By following the tips above, you will be off to a motivating start. As Aaron Ross said, “Just take any step, whether small or large. And then another and repeat day after day. It may take months, maybe years, but the path to success will become clear.”

If you’re interested in a one-on-one engagement to improve your coaching skills, feel free to schedule a complimentary discovery call with me at the link below.