Managing remote or hybrid teams

- When the Covid 19 pandemic made it practically impossible to work safely together in a traditional office, working from home quickly became the new normal. Now, for most, it's safe again to go back to the office but many don't want to. Working from the comfort of home offers more control of their schedule, zero commute, more time with family and friends and numerous other benefits we don't have time to list. Many companies have responded by instituting permanent, remote, or hybrid teams. If you find yourself leading one of these teams you'll have a few extra challenges to contend with. For one, the isolation of working from home that limits distractions like hallway chats also means your teams have no unstructured opportunities to bond with one another. Earlier in this chapter, we went over tactics about creating connections between team members that will help you address this issue. But you can also implement optional group work sessions two to three times a week where your team can use a virtual meeting room. Many people find a sense of comfort working quietly around others doing the same. Plus, if they have a question or want feedback on an idea their colleagues are right there to help. Speaking of virtual meetings, these can be great for providing multiple paths of contribution and connection although they can also be a source of discomfort and uncertainty for some. Should I turn my camera on? Does it matter if it's off? How often should I speak? Will anyone notice if I multitask? Mitigate these concerns by setting expectations and leading by example. Body language plays a huge role in how humans communicate so in that respect, keeping your camera on is a positive especially if you're giving a presentation, working in a small group or asking for buy-in. However, there are some meetings where it's appropriate to turn it off. For example, turning cameras off for brainstorming sessions can reduce feelings of self-consciousness leading to more open discussion and sharing of ideas. You also want to remember to always consider the whole human when deciding on a camera policy. Fatigue from being on camera is a real issue caused by over scheduling meetings. It can feel more exhausting when someone thinks they have to engage in performative listening, nodding their head, smiling occasionally when they really should be concentrating on information being delivered. In general, encourage your team to leave their camera on for small meetings and presentations but let them know it's okay to turn it off if they need to. The other thing to consider with a work from home team is the word home. Many people are professionals and caretakers career oriented and family oriented, and when their office and living area are in the same space the two can't help but overlap. Meetings will be interrupted by noisy pets or fussy children or even a roommate who thought it was their turn to use the room with the good wifi. Whatever the issue remember these two things, patience and empathy. You are dealing with the same factors as your team managing a work and home life stacked on top of each other. Let them know these kinds of interactions and interruptions don't reflect poorly on them and you trust them to strike a good balance. By extending the safe space you've created in the physical world into the virtual and hybrid worlds, you are continuing to foster mutual trust and respect within your team.