Leading the Charge in a Remote Office Environment

By Beth Porter, Four Corners Broadcasting

Along with most everyone else, I started working remotely in 2020. As an introvert, it suited me. In the years since, I’ve adopted a bit of a hybrid work environment. Granted, my office is only 8 minutes away, so I guess you could say it’s more work-from-home than remote.

In casual conversation with others, many of us are appreciating the work-life balance that this method of officing fosters. Leaders are embracing remote or hybrid work environments and the healthy work-life balance it can promote. However, leaders face new challenges managing these new types of teams. 

COMMUNICATION AND TEAM BUILDING
Team building is a huge hurdle. Luckily, technology and structure help with communication and creating new ways to build and track team work product. While face-to-face is best in any circumstance, and is the first to suffer in a remote environment, there are solutions. 

Choosing the right technology is paramount to keeping those lines open and productive. A recent article in Forbes magazine had three recommendations:

1. Effective Communication: Encourage the use of video calls for team meetings. Seeing each other's faces enhances communication and helps build stronger connections. You can integrate multiple communication channels, as different messages may be better suited to different ways of communication. Use a mix of emails, instant messaging, video calls, and collaboration tools to convey information effectively.
2. Fostering Team Cohesion: Schedule informal virtual gatherings where team members can discuss non-work-related topics. This helps build relationships and recreates the casual interactions of an office setting—foster collaboration through team challenges or projects that require members to work together toward a common goal. Engage in activities such as online games, virtual escape rooms, or collaborative workshops to strengthen team bonds.
3. Training and Skill Development: Invest in professional development by offering training and skill development opportunities. Remote and hybrid teams will benefit from learning new technologies, improving virtual collaboration skills, and enhancing their overall capabilities. Additionally, it encourages cross-training among team members to increase flexibility and resilience within the team.
   

If your team is within striking distance geographically, ensure there are opportunities for face-to-face interactions. These can be on a professional footing, with occasional in-person meetings or team projects, or social with out-of-office events. 

HIRING
New skills become a priority when looking for new hires. The ability to communicate well in a virtual environment is one of them. Use a conference interview to help demonstrate how well an individual will do in remote meetings. A series of back and forth emails help you to evaluate written communication skills.

Can the individual self-manage? One thing the pandemic taught us is some employees just don’t do well out of the traditional collocated office environment. 

Qualities that demonstrate the ability to self-manage include:

• Previous proven success in a remote environment 
• A commitment to goal setting
• Good time management skills and the ability to work with deadlines 
  

MANAGING PRODUCTIVITY
In these new work models, how do you track productivity and work product? Time spent in the office or observed activity no longer suffice. Managers must focus on outcomes, and need to set clear expectations. Luckily there are documenting digital platforms that can help track work and productivity. 

ERGONOMICS
Lastly, while working remotely can be as simple as providing a laptop, internet connection and remote access software, there are other considerations to giving employees the support they need for optimal productivity. That support could be literally physical: help with creating comfortable spaces including ergonomic office furniture and computer accessories and video call equipment.

Whether or not we’re comfortable with the new office arrangements fostered by the pandemic, it does seem to be a huge trend for at least the near future. With just a few tweaks and a big help from technology, leaders can reap the benefits and successfully traverse the obstacles. 

Looking for an immersive experience in leadership development or to develop leadership skills for a team member? Consider Leadership La Plata this year. Check out www.LeadershipLaPlata.org for more information

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Beth Porter is the Senior Marketing Consultant with Four Corners Broadcasting and an alumni of Leadership La Plata Class of 2015-2016.

Forbes article: the Top 5 Leadership Trends that will Drive success in 2024: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentgleeson/2024/01/02/the-top-5-leadership-trends-that-will-drive-success-in-2024/?sh=257091393da0