Does Remote Working Fit with Who You Are?

by Hugh Massie

If you have a personality that needs connection with others, how do you cope with remote working and virtual connection?

Further, do you have the behaviors, traits and skills to flourish away from a traditional work environment?

Will your manager know enough about you to support you during this time?

With observations like these, it’s obvious remote working and virtual connection are not necessarily a good fit for everyone.

Practicing what we preach Looking at my own team has been an interesting exercise. With the use of our Business DNA Behavior Natural Discovery process – used and applied from the point of hiring forward – I’ve always been able to have my team work to their strengths, wherever possible, slotting them into positions that set them up for success. But in this current pandemic, I’ve taken a longer and more in-depth look at their Business DNA reports. Based on what I see in their discovery profiles, some team members will welcome the isolation and I may well have to ensure they aren’t working excessive hours and reducing their interaction with their colleagues or the teams they lead. Others will miss collaboration with colleagues via closer proximity. Not just because they enjoy socializing, but because of their creativity; they rely on group interface to inspire the work they do. One key insight Business DNA Natural Behavior Discovery provides is a clear pathway to understand how individuals respond to their environment. This insight helps me keep an eye on their frame of mind. Believing that each person is responsible for their own accountability and self-motivation, I asked them to review their own Business DNA report as we moved the business to total remote working. This open and honest review has enabled us to see where we need to invest in the emotional and mental well-being of our people. And for our employees to gain a greater understanding of their own needs as this pandemic drives us all into unchartered waters. Know your people You may have cohesive, well-oiled business teams now but being forced into remote working without a knowledge of how this would impact them and your business can be worrisome. Remote working requires a significant amount of communication to keep everyone engaged.

How you do this depends largely on the investments you are willing to make, PLUS a clear understanding of what each individual team and team member needs:

• Who needs motivating?
• Who needs more empathy?
• Who is not self-reliant?
• Who needs reminders to meet deadlines?
• Who needs interaction with colleagues via video links to build creativity?
• Who needs to be reminded to exercise and lift their head above the work?
• Who is in danger of becoming too reserved and withdrawn?
• Which of the team leaders is best placed to support, encourage and coach?
• How well will individuals return to working in the office?

I have introduced Microsoft Teams to our team. Think of it as an efficient chat function with facets of project management. Already they are chatting in real time. Perhaps most importantly, they are giving each other encouragement and input. I am not policing them (they cc me into chats which is nice). I don’t need to be overbearing with oversight because I believe that it is my responsibility to provide them with any tools they need to do their job, but more importantly keep their minds and emotions healthy.

The Psychological State of Teams & Clients While Isolated How our team can help your team. DNA Behavior is well-placed to help you manage the well-being of your people. It might be as simple as understanding which of your people are concerned about using video conferencing. It could be a loss of efficiency from those not used to remote work. Or as complicated as ensuring naturally reserved individuals don’t become reclusive. With the insight of a Business DNA Natural Behavior profile, answers to these and other behavioral questions will inform strategies for caring for your team(s).

With quality behavioral insight you can respond quickly and appropriately to unusual reactions from colleagues. • You will know how to manage the usually placid one who becomes argumentative.

• You will be able to support the normally confident one who senses they are losing respect from colleagues because they aren’t as familiar with technology as others.
• You will know which of your customer-facing people could freeze at the thought of using phone or video links to connect with customers.
• Add to that a customer who is concerned about the current global environment.

Behavioral Knowledge is the Key Now more than ever is a time to encourage all staff and customers to complete the Business DNA Natural Behavior Discovery process. It only takes 10 minutes. It can be completed on any device. Business DNA provides real-time in-depth reporting to both the customer and the employee on how to communicate and interact with one another. And much, much more. Reach out: We will work with you to share our knowledge and suggest which of our tools would most benefit you.

For a start, complete your own discovery at no cost and with no obligation. Likewise, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our pros.