More and
more frequently, teams are spread out across the city, the state, even the
world; rather than having your full team working out of the same office, you
may have “virtual” or “remote” employees working from the comfort of their own
homes.
There’s
been a lot of ink spilled to celebrate the advantages of having a remote
workforce; I won’t go into that here, except to affirm that for many businesses, the option to work
virtually can create a more flexible and robust workforce.
Having
virtual teams brings its own set of challenges, though. For instance, how do
you ensure that employees are engaged when you don’t see those employees in the
office every day?
And how do
you offer affirmation to an employee when the only time you lay eyes on said
employee is at the annual holiday party?
Simple
Gestures to Affirm Virtual Team Members
To keep
your virtual employees engaged—and to ensure they feel appreciated—you’ll need
to make a special effort. Some small but significant ways to do this include:
Schedule some face time. E-mail is alright, and even texting
can be fine for simple yes-or-no questions. But it’s also important to have
some face time with virtual employees—to be able to look each other in the eyes
and have a moment of meaningful connection. Thankfully, there are plenty of
technologies that make this possible—including Skype and, naturally, FaceTime.
Make a point to check on your
employees regularly. Add
it to your weekly schedule or your Google calendar. Reach out to your virtual
employees weekly, even if just to ask if they’re okay and to thank them for
their work. Don’t let virtual employees feel forgotten or alone. Remind them
regularly that they are key members of your team.
Make sure virtual employees are part
of team meetings. Get
them on Skype or on speaker phone, or use a virtual meeting platform to ensure
that all employees are engaged.
Include virtual employees in the
collaboration process. Remote
workers may be solitary, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the itch to be
part of the team or to brainstorm with other employees. Actively include them
in collaboration, and make sure you provide online collaboration resources,
like Dropbox.
Give virtual employees chances to
grow. Schedule time
for them to either come to the office for team trainings, or allow them to
attend some virtual conferences or webinars. Make it clear that, even though
they work remotely, you care about giving them opportunities to develop.
Be
deliberate in including your virtual team members—because that’s the only way
to get them engaged.
Dr. Rick
Goodman CSP is a thought leader in the world of leadership and is known as one
of the most sought after team building experts in the United States and
internationally.
He is
famous for helping organizations, corporations, and individuals with systems
and strategies that produce increased profits and productivity without having
the challenges of micro managing the process. Some of Dr. Rick’s clients
include AT&T, Boeing, Cavium Networks, Heineken, IBM, and Hewlett Packard.
For more information on Rick’s speaking programs, audio programs, and
learning programs, contact (888) 267-6098 or Rick@rickgoodman.com, or
visit www.rickgoodman.com.
