Leading with trust: 4 ways for leaders to expertly manage high-powered teams in remote or hybrid work environments.
Most leaders have similar goals: they strive for excellence, organizational improvement, and building trust among their employees. In the post-pandemic workforce, leaders have had to pivot not just their goals but learning to manage remote/hybrid teams, bringing unique challenges to leaders everywhere. Further, high turnover rates during the Great Resignation resulted in promotions of first-time managers who, in many cases, have not received adequate leadership training. Since most organizations do not offer training programs for new managers, aspiring leaders must prioritize their own development if they hope to lead well and make a lasting impact.
If you want to be the kind of leader that drives results despite the current workforce challenges, here are four helpful tips for new and seasoned leaders alike.
1. Set attainable expectations.
As a manager, it is your job to convey expectations simply and succinctly. First, you need to understand what the expectations are before you can communicate them to others. When it comes to setting clear expectations for employees, Belinda Wee, an associate professor at Husson University’s School of Business and Management, believes every employee should be responsible for upholding the following:
Displaying a positive and respectful attitude
Working with honesty and integrity
Representing the organization in a responsible manner
Performing their job to a reasonable, acceptable standard
Maintaining good attendance
Conducting themselves in a professional manner, even when off duty
Following set policies and procedures when dealing with problems or issues
While performance-related and team expectations might vary, communicating and setting attainable expectations are constant. Being clear on objectives and meeting consistently to check in with employees’ progress shows your team that you are dedicated to their success.
2. Communicate clearly and in a way that is uplifting (ask rather than tell).
Ineffective communication results in confusion and disgruntled employees who lose sight of their purpose within the organization. Focus your communication in a way that creates engaged employees who are on board with your strategy and goals by simplifying, being direct, and being encouraging rather than dictatorial. In other words, ask rather than tell, and seek and solicit feedback from your team often. Communication is hands down the most important skill any leader needs to effectively lead a remote or hybrid team.
3. Help your employees connect their work directly to company growth.
Several years of fully remote work have resulted in employees experiencing feelings of loneliness, burnout, and chronic work stress. Help your team stay engaged and happy by connecting the work they do each day directly to the company’s growth and success. This may mean eliminating tedious touchpoints that add more stress than value, and seeking feedback from team members on their biggest roadblocks to doing their job well and collaborating with others.
4. Trust your team to meet expectations.
It can be challenging to trust employees to perform tasks when they are working remotely sometimes from thousands of miles away. Still, experts suggest that employees who feel trusted by their managers perform better and are happier at work. Additionally, 72% of workers who are able to act and make decisions on their own report being more satisfied in their jobs.
Holding employees accountable is still a good leader’s responsibility, but avoid the temptation to micromanage your team if you want to lead happy, healthy, and engaged employees.
How to Become a Results-Oriented Leader
If you want to enhance your communication skills as a leader in the post-pandemic workforce or want to reach peak performance as a forward-thinking innovator in Corporate America today, ExecTrek™ can help. Discover how to zero in on behaviors that can impact business and propel you forward. From communication and relationship building to team dynamics and executive presence, RC3 Partners provides transformational Executive Coaching and Leadership Development to leaders seeking their competitive edge. Contact us today to learn more.
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