How to Be a “Distance Leader”

Managing remotely, to a remote team, has unique challenges on a normal day. When you consider that for many organizations, working from home is a cultural shift, it becomes even more difficult. Being a “Distance Leader” is by far the most difficult element of all the new “distance” restrictions in our lives.

Stay Motivated

Connect with your team regardless of your title because everyone is in the same boat dealing with the pandemic. Empathy is valuable, and so are high-energy and optimism. Show them, literally using a video conferencing tool, that you are ready to work-from-home every day. Be ready and excited to speak to your team regularly, and bring good news, even if you also must bring some bad news too.

Figure out what’s really happening and take time to think things through. Let your team know you’re on top of the situation and consider how they are going to be affected by all the business decisions being made. Your team needs to believe that they come first!

Stay true to yourself and your vision so your team still sees the person they have trusted in the past. This may be the only business continuity you can offer!

Encourage New Ideas

Use the brainpower of your team! No one has done business through a pandemic, so all ideas are viable. This is a great time to listen to your team and better understand the way everyone thinks. Being part of the solutions to new challenges is at best motivating and at least inclusive, and both are feelings that help keep a team connected.

Allow your team to be creative and push the envelope! Inspire them to work together and develop strategies and plans for taking the business in new directions. Even if these aren’t realistic today, you may find some could work next year, and you’ll be ready for expansion!

Plan for Tomorrow

Before you move forward with any of your team’s new ideas, be sure you’re developing a plan that has a solid foundation. Look to the experts who assist companies with strategic thinking and planning.

You need to understand what your business runway looks like for tomorrow, and as far out as you can possibly see. Whether the pandemic ends in 3 months or 6 months, the key to being a great “distance leader” is to keep your team working as a team!