Leading in a virtual world can be a dream come true for some, and a nightmare for others. Many of us find ourselves literally forced into it by immediate global circumstance. We simply try to help people with people, so here are five concrete suggestions for leading virtually in a world of unprecedented complexity.
- Set Your Intention
More than ever before, your leadership opportunities will now only take place in the moment. This requires forethought and intention on your part. Break it down to a 3 step process, with the 4th step reserved for follow up.
First, identify the specific situation, goal, or behavior that this leading moment is about (and make sure you stay on task). Communicate to all parties involved the exact focus of the interaction.
Next, get clear on what you as the leader want to accomplish in this moment. Decide on the results and milestones that are relevant moving forward.
Finally, communicate in their preferred style. As a leader it’s on you to adapt your style to their needs – to speak their language.
As you wrap up your leading moment, set the timing and actions for follow up. Make sure someone is keeping a record of this … success resides in the details.
2. Be the Example
Are you practicing the values of your organization, better yet – are you practicing what you preach? Does what you expect from others match your own behavior? If you want a better world, you go first.
There is tremendous opportunity right now for you to inspire and motivate your team. There is also that same opportunity to play a role in decreasing morale and engagement.
Show your team how you are managing your own personal stressors. Share your best practices and encourage others to do the same. This will be especially impactful if you have established health and wellness practices aimed at keeping yourself and your family healthy. Share this information and encourage your team to invest in their stamina.
3. Get Specific With Scheduling
Decide on the needed frequency of virtual meetings with your team as a group, as well as 1:1 meetings. This is your opportunity to set an effective structure. Identify which meetings need to take place daily and which can be reserved to weekly or bi-weekly.
Set the meetings now and hold firm on the schedule. Start and end on time (and we mean right on time). Like any new ritual, you’ll need to work at getting in the habit of it.
Next, who really needs to be there? We recommend 3-5 people max. Forget the virtual meetings with 20 or 30 people online together. They will all be doing something else, so keep them focused and short – and follow immediately with a bulleted documentation of key points, actions and expectations.
4. Choose Empathy
Effective leadership means that the work is getting done AND they feel good about it. Are you currently aware of and attentive to the needs of your team? Driving results at the cost of the happiness of individuals will end up with you losing both in the long run.
Tap into the inner drivers of your team. Take the time to start conversations by asking them to “tell you about ______” and then let them fill the silence. Look for indicators of their comfort and happiness in their role. You may not always be able to change anything about their situation, but they do need to be heard, and to feel they have been heard.
A bonus tip? Use the camera! Video conferencing allows you and your team to pay attention to body language and words left unsaid. Go with faces, not slides.
5. Prioritize and Delegate
Differentiable between what has to be done now (by you), what seems urgent but can wait, and what can be done by a trusted member of your team. Leaders fall easily into the trap of thinking that they might as well do it all themselves, or even that they have to be there for every meeting. You don’t.
Your team members are waiting for the opportunity to help. They want to take things off of your plate and contribute on a higher level.
Take the time to divide up the big projects and tasks currently demanding your attention. Take the things that you can delegate and match them up with the capable candidate. This doesn’t mean they won’t still need your guidance, they will, but you can begin to empower them now.
Have a short conversation with each person you are delegating a task to. Make sure you follow the steps in #1 above to “set your intention” here as well. It gives you a better chance the work will get done, and that they will feel good about doing it.
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Leading in this crazy new world actually gives us a great opportunity to start fresh. Let go of the interpersonal habits that perhaps were holding you back. It just might work out beyond your wildest expectations.
Don Brown dedicates his career to ‘helping people with people’ in leadership, sales and customer service. Bilingual and experienced at the executive and line-level alike, you see the results of his work across dozens of industries, including brewing, automotive, airline, banking and medical equipment.
Speaking, writing, coaching and selling to the best – Ford Motor Company, Anheuser-Busch, United Airlines, Harley-Davidson, Jaguar Cars, Hilton Hotels and many, many more – Don takes great pride in long-standing customer relationships (some running well over twenty years).
He can be reached at don@donbrown.org
Natalie Peterson is the creator of The Stamina Protocol™, Stamina to Care and Fuel & Fit – Habits for Life. She helps successful people and organizations battle the symptoms of burnout. Instead they gain the ability to take back their time, double their energy, and increase focus so they can finally be more successful at work and not arrive home stressed out with nothing left in the tank.
Natalie has 13 years’ experience in organizational development and human skills training. Natalie holds a Master Trainer Certification in Situational Leadership® , The Leader’s Protocol® , The Service Protocol® , Forte Communication, and is a Marshall Goldsmith Certified Executive Coach.
Natalie has traveled all over the United States and Latin America implementing leadership curriculum’s into organizations, across every industry, from healthcare, to retail, and global call centers. She has a Master’s in Exercise Physiology, a certification as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, Precision Nutrition Level 1 & a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification.
She can be reached at natalie@donbrown.org
