Leading Remotely Requires New Communication Strategies

 

Managing a team remotely during the lockdown presents its challenges. Employees are facing new fears and struggles. They are not sure of the direction of the company, what's the expectation from them, which projects are on hold etc.,

With the added responsibility of taking care of household work while still getting the work done it becomes a delicate balance. managers are facing even tighter schedules. They have to manage their team, transform the daily operations and keeping business afloat. Companies are trying to get work done with fewer employees and layoff are rising.

Managing the team and work towards corporate goals requires a different approach to keep the flock together and motivated. A few recommendations are given below which will give results

15-minute one-on-ones 

Start with a fifteen-minute daily meeting individually with a focused agenda would have a positive effect on the morale of the team member. If the team size is large, then have these individual meetings on alternate days and ensure that you cover the entire team in 2 days. You can get right into the important issues that are of primary concern to the employees and ensures everyone is heard. By speaking one-to-one employees feel more secure and confident they will be heard.

By having meetings sequentially, one can identify the common issues raised by employees across the company so that you can address them immediately. 

Prioritise concerns

Ask your employees to prioritise their concerns. you may not get the direct answers. Ask them to talk about their concerns in terms of traffic signals - Green, Amber, Red. Green for all ok, Amber for some worry, red for primary concern This way you will get more candid feedback on what is the employee focusing on at the moment. 

This would help one to prioritise the operations, streamline it, provide employees with the flexibility they need, and find ways to enhance the culture of the company. Employees may miss out the office atmosphere, casual talks with colleagues and so alternate channels should be encouraged where these can be simulated and employees revive their contacts, maintain camaraderie similar to the office and revive happy hour.

The lockdown may be lifted soon, but the social distancing is likely to continue as well as remote working. The offices may open partially and definitely with reduced staff strength and the majority likely to continue remote working. Managers and team leaders must stay on top of what their employees need so that these challenges can be resolved and ensure their concerns are heard and addressed.

Leading Remotely Requires New Communication Strategies

Adam Roseman • MITSMR August 18, 2020