With a vaccine at long last on the horizon, it seems that the worst of the pandemic may be behind us. But even though we may be on the other side of the crisis, COVID-19 has, perhaps forever, changed the way we work. Even as pandemic restrictions lift and loosen across the country, it is likely that a significant degree of virtual work will continue, most probably resulting in a hybrid workplace environment for the foreseeable future. When it comes to remote or hybrid teams, it takes more work to lead. It takes greater effort to communicate, to motivate, to resolve conflicts. A leader’s job is to engage employees so as to deliver results to clients and other stakeholders. While leadership can be challenging when your entire team is in one place, those same issues multiply and compound when virtual or hybrid comes into play.
In my latest column in The Globe and Mail, published online just this morning, I focus specifically on what it will take to lead a hybrid or virtual team. You can read it here:
Four principles for creating an effective hybrid workplace culture
If you’re a paid online subscriber to The Globe, here is a direct link to the column on their site: http://tgam.ca/3i5UKZw. If you’re a subscriber to the print edition, my column is expected to publish there on Wednesday.
I’d love to hear more about your experiences in leading or working in a virtual or hybrid team. What have you done that has been successful, or not? Please share by commenting below.
If you want to catch up on some of my past columns in The Globe and Mail, here are some of my most recent ones:
• As video conferencing fatigue continues, here are 10 ways to make virtual team meetings engaging and fun
• The compelling case for ‘good enough’ in the workplace
• Want to be more persuasive? Become more likeable