Leading Remote Teams: 7 Tips to Keep Your Team Engaged

In times of uncertainty, human beings naturally resort to their default behavior. And, since leaders are humans too, their default behavior forms the basis of team spirit, performance and engagement. So, when an unexpected remote working environment came to prevail in the workplace, that default behavior simply kicked in. However, faced with the challenge of leading remote teams, many leaders didn’t know what to do and began to ponder how they could keep their teams engaged and productive.

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Leading Remote Teams in Action

A whole year after suddenly having to lead teams remotely as opposed to the previous close working environment, leaders and their people have had to adjust. What have leaders done to adapt to the new situation and how have they helped their people to cope as well? Here are some tips and tricks for leaders to maintain team engagement and motivation along with high performance.

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Adjust communication and make it friendly for everyone.

‍Some people miss the office dynamics. So, whenever you're communicating virtually, maybe during a coffee break or making small talk (which actually establishes rapport in the remote working environment) or even sharing photos of your kids, pets or personal achievements, make sure you establish and maintain group spirit.

‍Check-in regularly on your people

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‍A minimum of once a week so, if it helps to achieve this, lock some time for it into your schedule.

‍Get personal, but not too personal.
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‍Know your boundaries when you talk to your people; try to understand what their life is like working remotely and ask if or how you can help. At the very least, listen.

‍Plan, update and celebrate progress.
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‍Who can manage to stay on track without a plan? Let alone stick to it when working remotely. No one. As a leader, make sure to plan and share expectations with your people. Encourage them to plan as well, ditch micromanagement, constantly track progress and make sure you all celebrate success.

‍Capitalize on the benefits of working remotely
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‍With endless opportunities and enough flexibility, give your team the space to innovate and try new approaches. You’ll be surprised how engaged they’ll become.

‍When things don't go as planned, assume it’s the result of positive intent but miscommunication. Understand what happened, address the problem and communicate the lessons learnt to the team. Don’t rush to blame someone.

‍Remind your people of the WHY to keep them emotionally connected to the mission. Why are you doing what you’re doing? Why are they doing what they’re doing? Mention your WHY in planning meetings, in tough times and definitely when you sense low morale within the team. Share success stories and important milestones with them.

Engaged teams are at the heart of sustained success and high performance. This adds to the achievement of those who are leading remote teams.

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By applying simple techniques and making small adjustments like the 7 tips mentioned in this blog, leading remote teams can be the gateway to a new world full of potential and endless opportunities.

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