Tips for Leading in a Virtual World

In today’s world, so much is happening virtually, from how you buy groceries, to attend meetings, or even work out. And that's not all. How you influence and lead within your team is also happening online. So, how do you do that successfully?
In this video, we’re going to cover five tips for leading in a virtual world:
#1 Be Human: Your presence still matters, even if you’re behind the computer screen. I mean, we’re all craving human interaction right now and it’s so important to be heard and seen. So next time you’re in a meeting, leave that video camera on and stay present. And remember, keep your body language open and positive, and make eye contact.
#2: Nurture 1-on-1 Relationships: With everyone being remote, we’ve really lost out on casual, in-person interactions and hallway conversations that helped build connection. So, don’t just rely on team-wide virtual meetings to stay in touch. Reach out to colleagues on a 1-on-1 basis.
#3: Communicate with Clarity: This is so much more important when leading a team online. It’s a lot easier for virtual teams to get wires crossed on expectations and priorities, especially when you’re not sitting next to each other in the same office. So get really specific and check-in often to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
#4: Be Responsive: Ok, so just like there’s a higher chance of miscommunication in the virtual environment, you also risk losing trust. What hurts trust the most? Broken promises and unmet expectations. In the world of remote teams, everyone has to be sure to stay responsive, follow-through on commitments, and attend meetings. If not, these missteps can have more of a negative impact than usual.
#5: Make time for Creativity & Innovation: These days, with teams having so many virtual meetings, interactions can easily get reduced to status updates. What’s lost? The time for generating new ideas, exploring alternatives, and innovating. So, make a conscious effort to carve out time in group discussions for these activities.
That’s it for now. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and I’ll see you in the next video.
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