Working Remotely Does not Mean Working Alone
Even though remote work can be isolating, it invariably involves interacting with clients, colleagues and other role-players. It’s seldom that one can escape the task of relationship-building, even if your office is a quaint shed tucked away in your garden. So be prepared to invest time in this. “Building relationships with people remotely is a muscle you need to flex. It requires more effort, but the relationships are more intentional.” The benefit of this is often a stronger foundation for teamwork, even when collaborating remotely.
No Longer Able to Meet in Person
A common thread we must address is fostering long-distance work relationships. How to make that initial connection with someone new who you would previously have met for coffee or golf to establish a relationship. Conversations about children or pets, a common passion for sport or food and hashing out the complexities of work while being removed from each other allows for opening up a communication channel that works effectively.
Supporting Your Team
Finding common ground will serve relationships that need to be built remotely. This includes regular conversations on matters of personal importance. For some it may be family and time spent away from home due to project demands. For others it may be a hobby or interest that provides stress relief. Maintaining casual contact is as important as work-related communication and will prove useful when pressure mounts to meet targets.
Overseeing a team that works remotely, requires creativity to ensure a sense of belonging and teamwork. Try things like pairing up and assigning mini projects to team members, allowing them to research and provide feedback to the group on a topic that was of interest to them and relevant to their work. This will not only produce greater cohesion in the team but alleviate the sense of isolation that often accompanies remote work. Also, made a point of finding out what motivates each person.
If you are managing a remote team, acknowledging, and supporting each one in ways that are meaningful to them personally can improve productivity and morale. Prioritising relationships early on and adjusting your expectations accordingly will create a solid foundation for sustainable teamwork.
In our next article we will discuss managing expectation while working remotely.
