I Work Remotely… Now What?
3 minute read
Someone recently asked me how to manage a team successfully in a remote environment and I thought I knew the answer until I started working at a fully remote company. I worked remotely at my previous company but we didn’t start that way, so I had a lot of credibility and relationship equity built up by the time I started managing people remotely. Joining a company in a leadership position where everyone is fully remote is a whole different situation. I truly didn’t know if anything I was doing was making any sort of impact until recently when I received the following feedback:
“When you joined, things got so much brighter.”
“I wish you were here sooner. Ever since you started, things have been so much better.”
These comments surprised me because I hadn’t interacted with them one-on-one before. Curious about what I was doing right, I asked for specifics. Here’s what they said:
I foster a positive remote culture through online chats.
I bring energy and positivity to interactions.
My communication is clear and intentional.
Reflecting on their feedback, I broke down my approach into key practices that have consistently yielded positive results:
Engage in Online Chats: Whether it’s Slack, Teams, or another platform, I actively participate in team chats. Figure out where people chat online and join in. I am notorious for creating company-wide (or team-wide, if your company is very large) chat groups for updates and random fun things. Important company updates? Chat it. Exciting life events? Chat it. Did something fun over the weekend? Share a photo.
Tactful Humor and Self-Deprecation: Whatever it takes to get a reaction out of people in my meetings, I’ll do it. If that means I need to throw myself under the bus, make a corny joke or otherwise embarrass myself - say less. Sometimes your team needs a focal point, and sometimes that focal point is you. It humanizes you, makes you relatable and is sometimes just a great ice breaker.
Communicate Clearly and Frequently: Before any communication, I define its purpose and my intentions clearly. Whether it’s seeking feedback or sharing updates, I ensure everyone understands why it matters and what the next steps are. I will be clear on what I want to know from them, why I care about their feedback so much, and I’ll be honest and realistic with what I think I can do and what I think I can’t do.
Consistency: In a remote setting, consistency is crucial. People want to know they can count on you, that you are reliable and that they can trust you. The more you show up for them consistently (in cadence and in behavior) the more likely you are to be successful.
Navigating remote work successfully isn’t just about managing tasks; it’s about nurturing a positive, connected team culture, despite physical distances. By staying engaged, approachable, and clear in communication, I’ve found that remote teams can thrive just as effectively as in-person ones.
