Avoiding Isolation: Keeping Your Team Motivated and Connected When WOrking Remotely

Keeping your team motivated while working remotely can be a challenge to leaders, especially when it has not been planned for like so many workplaces today. However, the following tips can help ensure that your team remains connected and motivated even when working remotely.

Establish a foundation through transparent communication
When managing a remote team, it is important to ensure that the team members have a clear understanding of the organizational goals and how each of the tasks they are doing contributes to the organizational goals. The expectations that you have from each of them should be clear. You should also be sure to provide regular constructive feedback to ensure that the team members are kept in the loop and know that you're invested in their success.

Enhance and promote teamwork
Creating virtual support structures where team members can get assistance when working on different tasks, working collaboratively with other members, and sharing and addressing concerns is key. Be sure to involve the team members in deciding the methods that can be employed to ensure that the team works together effectively. Slack, Zoom, and other tools are great resources to start with!

Create professional development plans for team members
Creating plans that are geared towards enhancing the skill set of employees improves their commitment to the organization and lets them know that you care about their success. Linking the team members up with various platforms where they can advance their knowledge in their areas of operation will not only motivate them but also enhance their productivity. Also, as changes occur in the different areas of focus, equipping the team members with the skills they need for those areas is critical. Think about providing access to sites like Lynda Learning or offering a professional development reimbursement to team members if you can fit it in the budget- it'll help you retain employee and save money in the long run!