Lead By Example: How to Support Your Team When You Work From Home
Many of us these days are wondering how to support our teams when we’re doing remote work, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Well, when you work from home, it’s important to stay communicative and lead by example. Try to adopt the following practices to keep your team collaborating at the highest levels.
Acknowledge Challenges: Seek solutions with your team
No one said working from home during a pandemic, without time to prepare for the transition would be easy…. Start with empathy for yourself and your team. Then move onto team problem solving and practical solutions to work through the inevitable change in operations together.
Routine: Cultivate healthy habits and lead by example
It starts with you as the leader, so make sure you practice what you preach by demonstrating healthy habits in your approach to work. This includes; taking regular breaks, building self-care into your schedule, knowing when to walk away from your desk and striving every day for work life balance. Share and discuss what works for you with your team. Minimise Stress: Communicate expectations clearly
The potential for stress from our external environment is high. Therefore, do what you can as a leader to minimise this; by communicating, setting and reviewing work expectations with your team and individuals regularly. Default to trust. Support this approach by defining and documenting processes.
Foster Online Collaboration
Ensure you know the difference between simply communicating virtually and true online collaboration. Confirm that project milestones are supported and productivity is being sustained. Document and validate these practices with your team. Review regularly to seek improvements.
Support Social Communications
Build in regular, rhythmic and fun ways to support your existing work culture and social connections. What worked in the physical office? How can you replicate or enhance that virtually? Everything from team Spotify playlists to team video quizzes, to simple 5 minutes of social chat at the start of meetings. Figure out what works for you and your team, then adopt it into your team interactions and operations.