Now people start working remotely more, normal work patterns, modes of communication, and team dynamics might be disrupted. Remember: disruption also creates opportunity. Explore new ways of working and revisit old assumptions that will likely benefit you in the long run.
Here are some strategies that leaders can employ to ensure their teams continue to collaborate effectively and maintain momentum in the business.
- Clarify and re-clarify goals and roles: Ensure everyone understands the team objectives, their individual roles, and how each person contributes to the outcome.
- Emphasize personal interactions: People working from home might feel disconnected and lonely, which might lower productivity and engagement. Therefor, keep everyone in mind, schedule regular meetings, create the virtual coffee machine and humanize communication through FaceTime, video conferences,…
- Normalize new work environments: Working from home creates new distractions and the potential for misunderstandings. Some tips and tricks: take a virtual tour, acknowledge non-traditional workspaces and keep your assumptions or stereotypes in check.
Source: Business Harvard Review – by Heidi K. Gardner and Ivan Matviak.