For leaders, remote work environments have posed a number of challenges.
After more than 18 months managing primarily remote teams, we’re no longer just surviving until things “get back to normal.” We’re realizing we need to adapt to a very different “normal” that has persisted long beyond what anyone had hoped.
If you’ve found yourself wondering how to improve the cohesion of your team to truly maximize its full potential, you’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest questions leaders face as we look toward closing out 2021.
While there are many advantages to working remotely – increased productivity, an element of flexibility, lack of time spent on a commute, health and independence, to name a few – one of the most difficult aspects of a remote work environment is creating team cohesion for a group that is not interacting in the same space every day.
If you’ve found yourself wondering how to improve the cohesion of your team to truly maximize their full potential, you’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest questions leaders face as we look toward closing out 2021.
Evaluating the Changes We’ve Adopted
As employees have adapted to the routine of working from home, managers have been forced to develop new rhythms of communication with their team members. In order to stay connected, some leaders have pushed for back-to-back Zoom meetings throughout the workday. This has caused team members to feel overwhelmed with work, because they don’t have enough time to even process what they’ve heard in the meetings.
Other leaders have tried to eliminate meetings in an effort to boost productivity, leaving some of their team members to feel neglected or alone. For those who are onboarding within a new organization, the lack of structure and communication with colleagues can severely hinder the process of connecting as part of the team. This isolation can lead to a sense that employees are valued only for what they produce for the company and not cared for as a human.
So what’s the answer? How do we strike the balance between fostering connection and collaboration within our teams and preventing a heavy Zoom schedule from overwhelming our people?
This isolation can lead to a sense that employees are valued only for what they produce for the company and not cared for as a human.
Unlocking Team Potential
Part of the answer lies in our understanding of what team cohesion means. If we truly want our teams to function as a whole, rather than a group of individual contributors, we need to shift the dynamic of power to the whole group. This means asking questions and listening to the needs and perspectives of our team members.
The key to unlocking the team’s potential lies in our vulnerability and flexibility as leaders. The more we’re able to adjust to the needs of the individuals in the group, the better we’ll be able to increase the capacity of the team as a whole.
The beauty of embracing vulnerability in leadership is that it paves the way for the team to achieve greater success than the sum of its parts.
A Human Perspective
Remember that your employees are humans, first. Approach them with dignity, respect, and curiosity. Let them know you appreciate them, beyond what they can do for you.
The beauty of embracing vulnerability in leadership is that it paves the way for the team to achieve greater success than the sum of its parts.
There’s something very significant about interacting with team members on a human level. It promotes growth and development, because it gives individuals the freedom to thrive. Because of the challenges working from home adds to team dynamics, it’s important to find ways to compensate for the loss of personal conversations between meetings or connections over lunch. It takes effort to provide opportunities for meaningful moments of conversation between team members – but the benefits far outweigh the cost.
What building team cohesion looks like
While the answer will come from the specific team you lead, there are steps you can take to encourage the type of team cohesion that will improve communication, productivity, and positive engagement among the group.
1. Ask questions.
Don’t assume you know where your team members are at, based only on what you observe. Ask them for feedback, ideas, and thoughts.
2. Listen.
Don’t dismiss the perspectives of any of your team members, regardless of the emotion behind their words.
3. Share the process.
Allow the team to own the process of creating dynamics and norms that will enable them to thrive as a cohesive whole.
4. Engage on a human level.
Implement opportunities to connect with your people as individuals. Create space for interpersonal interactions that are not attached to a specific outcome.
Leaders that listen to their team members, embrace vulnerability, remain flexible, and engage on a human level are able to harness the power of a cohesive team in a remote work environment. They set their teams up for success by allowing the team to own the process of developing an environment that enables them to thrive as a whole.
Learning to become this type of leader will increase your capacity to lead with empathy, adapt in times of change, and achieve dynamic results.
Leaders that listen to their team members, embrace vulnerability, remain flexible, and engage on a human level are able to harness the power of a cohesive team in a remote work environment.
Looking for ways to improve cohesion and maximize your team’s potential? Connect with Lisa to learn about workshops and coaching for leaders who are committed to building empowered teams, supporting their people and expanding equity in the workplace.