Remote work has become the norm for millions of employees worldwide over the past several years. While employee-manager relationships have certainly changed without in-person, face-to-face contact, business leaders have the power to streamline operations and empower remote teams as their companies evolve to better accommodate and support remote workers.
To address the challenges that virtual work setups can present for both employees and their managers, smart leaders are finding effective ways to ensure their remote employees can thrive in a primarily digital workspace. Below, 18 Forbes Coaches Council members explore impactful ways to show employees the support they need to succeed in a remote workplace in 2023.
1. Implement Regular Check-Ins
In 2023, great leaders are highly prioritizing the well-being of their remote employees by implementing regular, intentional well-being check-ins via one-on-one video calls. This personalized approach creates a supportive environment, making employees feel valued and understood, consequently boosting their morale and productivity. – Thomas Lim, Technicorum Holdings
2. Prioritize Communication
We prioritize communication and show high levels of empathy when interacting with our teams, especially as we work remotely. We actively engage in open and transparent communication, making ourselves available virtually to hear their concerns and ideas. By fostering a supportive virtual environment, we empower our team members to navigate challenges and collaborate effectively. – Foluso Gbadamosi, FolusoGbadamosi.com
3. Keep The Vision At The Forefront
In the book Tomorrowmind, Gabriella Kellerman and Martin Seligman address the importance of leadership in helping employees understand why their work matters. Leaders and managers can achieve this by keeping the vision at the forefront and by sharing how individual roles tie into the larger company goals. In doing so, remote and non-remote employees feel a greater connection and sense of belonging. – Elizabeth Semion, Elizabeth Semion & Associates
4. Understand Each Employee’s Unique Situation
Most leaders aren’t aware of what remote employees have to deal with at home. Some employees might have poor internet service. Perhaps they don’t have a separate office, and they have to work at the kitchen table. Maybe they have kids who are out of school or being homeschooled. There can be many different distractors when working at home. Take some time to understand each employee’s situation. – John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises
5. Encourage Employees To Set And Maintain Boundaries
Great leaders encourage their remote employees to set and maintain boundaries that support their family life and mental health. They do this by speaking openly about the value of boundary-setting and by creating systems (policies, hiring practices and so forth) designed to support and reward those behaviors. – Cathy Lanzalaco, Inspire Careers LLC
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6. Embrace Innovative Approaches To Collaboration
In a virtual environment, leaders foster connection and belonging by embracing innovative approaches. They organize virtual coffee chats, team-building games and creative challenges. They encourage open communication, recognize achievements publicly and provide opportunities for cross-team collaboration. This cultivates a strong sense of community and inspires collaboration. – Anna Barnhill, Barnhill Group Consulting, Inc
7. Be Empathetic
Empathy is vital in supporting remote employees, as it encourages them to share more and build trust with a leader. A leader who listens with the ability to offer guidance thereafter is a leader who will be remembered and emulated. With so much uncertainty in this new world of work, a leader can provide that anchor and also be a springboard for growth and productivity. – Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
8. Lead By Example
Great remote leaders lead by example. They set clear goals, co-create a framework for collaboration with their teams and manage the distances remote work can create. This means they consider geographical locations, time zones, cultures and technology. Great remote leaders also allocate additional time for one-to-ones and informal catch-ups, whether individual or with the whole team. – Krumma Jónsdóttir, Positive Performances
9. Push Team Members Beyond Their Comfort Zones
Effectively pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones and instilling a sense of significance in remote employees is a remarkable catalyst for enhancing productivity. The remote work environment can sometimes foster feelings of insignificance or of being unnoticed, and can even encourage employees to remain within their comfort zones without striving for more. Being able to drive them is impactful. – Shruti Parashar, GOALisB
10. Utilize Virtual Meet-Ups And Getaways
In addition to utilizing virtual coffee matchmaker bots, virtual watercooler rooms and other personal connection practices and ceremonies, I have noticed that organizing company getaways in unique locations has proven to be highly beneficial for team building and morale. Along with mentorship and coaching matching, these strategies have all been effective in creating a cohesive and motivated team. – Alina Trigubenko, Profi
11. Stay Connected
The most impactful way to support remote employees is to stay connected. This is important for optimal job satisfaction and productivity. Make them feel part of the company culture with face-to-face meetings on video calls and regular reviews of company values. Brief, daily all-hands meetings and regular team meetings keep the forward momentum and the lines of communication open. – Ryan Stewman, Break Free Academy
12. Listen To Your Team Every Day
Listen to your team, day in and day out, irrespective of how uncomfortable it may be to hear the message. Great leaders recognize that in a remote working world, having excellent communication with their people is a crucial component of competitive success. The people are on the ground and have greater visibility into some areas of the business; their perspective is valuable. – Shamila Mhearban, The Leadership Growth Hub
13. Connect Through Non-Work-Related Engagement
Build stronger relationships through intentional non-work time. You don’t have to be in person to connect with people. Connection comes from being empathic and getting to know humans for the humans they are. More and more leaders are creating virtual water coolers and figuring out how to do it without being in person. Starting meetings with 10 minutes of non-work conversation is a good start. – Alex Draper, DX Learning Solutions
14. Demonstrate A Curious Mindset
A great leader leads with a curious mindset about their remote employees’ experience, which brings forth questions to discover if the work arrangement is going well, what could be done differently, how to collaborate more or better and how to stay aligned with the work. Curiosity and active listening go together and are the standout “tools” for supporting employees. – Sohee Jun, S.J. Consulting, LLC
15. Keep Online Meetings To A Minimum
Keep online meetings to a minimum—and schedule only mandatory meetings! The rise of Zoom-style meetings has catalyzed a multitude of calls, many of which could have been emails. Protect the focus time of your remote employees and hold mandatory calls only. – Karina Ochis, Prof. Dr. Karina Ochis
16. Focus On Leading Instead Of Managing
Leaders need to lead their remote teams, not try to manage those people. This requires a commitment to be present, connected and a resource for their employees, allowing them to manage their own affairs while holding them accountable for results. When you focus on accomplishing what matters most, it becomes easy to let go of managing the people you rely upon. – Philip Liebman, ALPS Leadership
17. Offer Resources And Tools To Support The Team
Some highly impactful ways great leaders support their remote employees are by offering resources for mental health, investing in the right tools and technology for efficient remote work, setting clear expectations and fostering a sense of community and belonging. Remote employees need to feel supported by their organizations to continue contributing at the highest professional levels. – Tinna Jackson, Jackson Consulting Group, LLC
18. Show That You Trust Remote Employees
Leadership is trust, and that’s the way to lead forward in today’s remote work environment. Productivity will increase when leaders emphasize work-life balance. Focus on the well-being of employees. Doing this enhances their level of loyalty and moves the organization toward a high retention rate and low turnover. Challenge the status quo and be the leader that impacts employees’ lives by showing them that you truly trust them. – Alex Jones, National Leadership Association
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