Establishing accessible collaboration tools and common virtual communication processes is a critical component for remote working success. Strip the tool stack down to a minimum. Google Docs, a company-wide chat tool (Slack), and Zoom are all it requires for effective remote working.
Managing the stakeholder expectations when teams are working remotely is essential to maintaining trust and confidence (this can be as true of internal stakeholders as it is of external). It is human nature to worry more about something we can’t see or control than something we can. Instilling these principles into remote work practices help to build and grow the strong relationships that are core to effective remote work. Establishing a clear, comprehensive governance structure, and defined ways-of-working provides transparency and guidance to teams, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their role and location, is aligned to new processes and mechanisms for working together remotely.
An event like COVID 19 is not merely a crisis to manage, it is also an opportunity to rethink established ways of living and working. Teams can be highly productive working remotely, but in order to achieve that they must build trust and establish ‘social norms’ that enable them to perform. During a rapid switch to remote-first working, these norms will not yet be established; teams and leaders need to pay attention to these issues.
1. Be empathetic
For many, this is a significant change to life and work: Recognize and acknowledge that change and be patient as everyone adjusts to the new ‘normal’. Understand that many will be in challenging situations (kids in background, limited quiet or privacy, social isolation). Make a point to connect personally; inquire about others’ well-being. Connectedness is critical. Emphasize the importance of video and being present (i.e. no multitasking) — if the meeting is of such little value that everyone would rather be doing something else, cancel the meeting or change the attendance so everyone gets something out of it.
2. Building trust takes commitment
Trust is easier to build if teams have been working together for some time, and especially if they have met in person. For colleagues collaborating over long distances or multiple time zones who have not met, trust may be low. Ensure team members have some time to interact socially (via video) as this will build a human connection and increase trust and productivity.
3. Embrace flexibility
Teams spread across global time zones must work harder to remain connected and will often need to work early or late in the day to connect with colleagues. Take this into account and try to build working groups who are time zone aligned as much as possible.
4. Good audio & etiquette are vital
Most laptop speakers and microphones are much worse than even a cheap earbud-style headset with integrated microphone. Practice good meeting etiquette: remain on mute if you have background noise, don’t hog the microphone, take turns to speak, be polite, keep an eye on chat for team members raising points to discuss.
