6 Crucial Leadership Skills for Managing a Remote Team
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Leading a remote team demands specific skills to ensure productivity and cohesion, so we’ve gathered insights from six seasoned professionals, including CEOs and Managing Directors. They delve into why setting clear expectations and fostering strong relationships are pivotal, along with other essential leadership skills. Discover how to develop these competencies to manage your remote team effectively.
- Foster Strong Relationships
- Set and Communicate Clear Expectations
- Cultivate Respect and Encourage Earned PTO
- Build and Maintain Trust
- Utilize Empathy as a Leadership Tool
- Lead by Example for Work-Life Balance
Set and Communicate Clear Expectations
The leadership skill I’ve found to be the most crucial for any team, and especially remote teams, is the ability to set and communicate clear expectations. Whenever I see a client struggling in their own leadership position or with someone on their team, it usually comes back to unclear expectations. This usually looks like someone behaving or performing in a certain way that isn’t in alignment with what’s best for themselves or the team.
First, leaders need to develop their ability to set expectations by having clear goals for the team and individuals on the team that are clearly connected. These need to be objective, measurable, and understood by all parties involved. Next is communicating these expectations. Since everyone’s learning style is unique, it’s best to understand what works best for each employee. I’d recommend at minimum communicating both live on a call (or video call) and having it in writing so you both can refer back to it.
A great example of this for a remote team is putting a working agreement in place in writing that explicitly states the expectations of working hours, preferred communication methods, and weekly, monthly, or quarterly goals of the position.
Brittany Canaski
Life & Leadership Coach, Hello Velocity
Cultivate Respect and Encourage Earned PTO
I’d have to go with something simple: Good leaders respect their employees. We encourage team members to take breaks and recharge, and do not penalize or discourage them from using their entitled PTO.
I’ve been a leader and project manager for my remote company for almost a decade now, and I can say that our team collaboration is stronger when we promote a healthy work environment—one that respects ‘offline time.’
Our work culture embraces time off by planning ahead to ensure that projects and business can continue smoothly (even when someone is on leave!) by distributing the workload and responsibilities among team members. Employees who take their PTO won’t burn out as fast and return with reduced stress and increased productivity. My team benefits when operating in a healthy work culture. And when my team benefits, productivity skyrockets.
So, my advice is to practice empathy and develop a sense of respect for everyone who works on your team. Once you learn how to empathize, respect comes easily.
Maurice Harary
CEO & Co-Founder, The Bid Lab
Build and Maintain Trust
Trust is crucial in managing remote teams. Without it, it would be impossible to successfully manage people working from home. The ability to let go is hard to master, but it’s worth developing this skill.
I live and work in Dubai, but I manage a team in London. As I’m physically removed from the business, I have to trust that my team is doing what they should be in my absence. This didn’t come straight away; it took a long time to build that trust.
The temptation is to check in too often (virtually looking over someone’s shoulder), but this breeds resentment. Trust that people are able to get on with whatever you’ve tasked them with and leave them to it. If you can’t trust your team, then you should question whether they are a good fit for your business.
Craig Bird
Managing Director, CloudTech24
Utilize Empathy as a Leadership Tool
Empathy is the remote leader’s secret weapon! Imagine Sarah, a talented developer on your remote team, feels constantly stressed due to a demanding family schedule. Without empathy, you might miss the root cause of missed deadlines. But by understanding her challenges, you can offer flexible work arrangements or alternative project structures. Empathy fosters trust and motivates remote teams.
Beth Worthy
Cofounder and President, GMR Transcription Services, Inc.
Lead by Example for Work-Life Balance
Leading by example is crucial to managing a remote team. This means that you also follow the expectations and guidelines set for them to avoid sending mixed messages. If they’re expected to not complete work outside of office hours or while on vacation, for instance, then you should also practice this. It helps show employees the value of work-life balance. To develop this skill, it’s best to discuss workplace expectations with your team, and give them an opportunity to voice what they expect from you as a leader. By doing so, you’re fostering open communication and trust with your employees, which can build a good rapport for the future.
Benjamin Farber
President, Bristol Associates, Inc.
Foster Strong Relationships
Relationship building! As a family-run commercial cleaning company covering the local area, nearly all of our team members are remote workers. Many of our dedicated team members have been with us for years, and our consistent approach to caring for both them and our clients is key to this. The relationships we foster with our customers and staff underpin everything we do here at Cleaning Technique. Our customers and staff know we care about them and their livelihoods; nobody is just a number on a spreadsheet. Building relationships leads to building a family, and we are passionate about running our family business for the families of those we serve.
Sean McGrath
Managing Director, Cleaning TechniqueTom Burns, Real Estate Professional, Rich Doctor
Article Link: 6 Crucial Leadership Skills for Managing a Remote Team
