Leading from Behind a Screen
Quick solutions for leaders that are leading a team from afar.
To all the leaders out there that are now leading from a screen in your home office: be on the lookout for any signs that your team is struggling.
Like many other countries, we, here in Canada, are now in our fourth week where businesses have been shut down to avoid close social interactions. The shock of the first week or two is now behind us and some people are struggling to adjust to the sudden and huge transformation of how they work and organize their day.
Let’s be honest; being a cohesive and high functioning team is hard at the best of times. It is even an elusive dream for some who never had the chance to work with one. Notwithstanding how your team was functioning before the pandemic, the sheer fact of migrating every team member to an online team environment will pose a unique and frustrating set of challenges. It will also, in some cases, exacerbate some of the issues that were already present before everyone physically parted ways.
Here are some of the risks and some solutions on how you, the leader, can improve the team’s functioning during this time of high flux.
Risk 1- Lacking a sense of direction / isolation that degrades morale and performance
Potential solutions:
· Engage the team on the new/adapted direction you shall take together.
· What is possible, what is not? Ask powerful questions and keep an inquisitive mind as what the team members think could degrade morale and performance.
· Involve them by holding frank and honest conversations that lead to collective solutions. Buy-in and accountability is stronger that way.
Risk 2- Misunderstandings or lacking clarity on priorities leading to wasted work
Potential solutions:
· Set clear priorities and expectations for both the short term (2-3 days) and medium term (7-8 days).
· Communicate these priorities as much as possible. It is impossible to over communicate in times like these.
· Perform regular checks for understanding and stand ready to provide support whenever a team member is struggling with one of the priorities outlined.
Risk 3- Isolation and lack of social interaction leading to less motivation and less cohesion as a team.
Potential solutions:
· Consider having at least one touch point with your immediate each team members everyday. It can be an email, a phone call, or a quick video conference. When people hit a stumbling block, they aren’t always reaching out or sometimes the only thing they need is some reassurance that they are going in the right direction.
· Consider having one « fun » online video meeting per week. What’s the problem with a wine and cheese at a distance?
Risk 4- Poor communication due to missing in-person contact, time it takes to write vs talk, or finding time together
Potential solutions:
· Prepare a clear and set agenda before each meeting. Ensure that the discussions are on point to minimize time wasted.
· Ask team members to clearly let you, the leader, and other members know WHEN it is the best time to reach out during the day. Some have children at home, others have a significant other that may have online meetings. By getting a sense of what everyone’s time crunch challenge is, you are in a better position to give them much needed breathing room during this time.
Please do reach out if you need some assistance or a fresh set of eyes on your current situation. I can help make it better for you.
Frederick Audet is the president and CEO of Learn Square Inc. a company with a big heart for people, learning and growth. He is an instructional designer, facilitator and a life and executive coach who help organizations take care of their greatest asset: their people. Frederick can be reach at 403.831.2915 or faudet@learnsq.com