Page 3 - The Leadership Line: February 2021

Remote Working: Management Tips

Here are some tips to help you manage your telework team with success:

» Set Clear Expectations: Establish clear objectives and performance indicators to ensure
work meets expectations. When clear guidance is given and understood, micro-managing
of daily activities is not needed. Micro-managing can reduce productivity and cause
feeling of distrust. Instead strive to be clear and transparent.

» Overcommunicate: Communication is always critical as a manager and even more so in
a remote environment. Prioritize one-on-one meetings with each team member. Set a
recurring meeting with well-defined expectations for the format of the meeting. Ask your
team member to email a list of action items with due dates after a meeting to ensure you
are both on the same page.

» Check in With Your Team Members: Loneliness is one of the biggest struggles of telework.
Another challenge is burn-out as team members struggle to shut down their work at the
end of the day. If you sense someone is struggling, direct them to MIL’s EAP program on
the MILtranet. According to Gallup, when you show an interest in your team members
as people, not just as employees, they feel a greater sense of psychological safety and have
greater trust in their leadership and organization.

» Be Flexible While Maintaining Expectations: For many, working from home is still a new
concept and is a work in progress. We are unlikely to do everything right the first time.
Frequently evaluate what’s working and what’s not and adjust. Ask your team member
what works for him or her. Be open to change. What works for one person may not work
for another.

» Express Gratitude for a Job Well Done: Don’t forget to recognize your team members for
their efforts. Positive feedback should outweigh constructive feedback by 7 to 1. “Catch”
your team member doing something well and praise them. When working in virtual
environments, it’s easy for employees to feel forgotten or unvalued. Let them know you
see and appreciate their hard work and integrity.

» Maximize Your Virtual Team Tools: Take advantage of the video feature in Microsoft
Teams to connect visually. Have you heard of the 7-38-55 Rule? The rule states that
7% of meaning is communicated through words, 38% through tone of voice, and 55%
through body language so turn on your camera and smile your way to more effective
communication and a stronger connection to your team member. Consider taking
advantage of MIL’s Microsoft Teams training sessions and site or contact Rebecca Helms
for a small-group session. Information for each can be found here: Training Site.