Remote working is a challenge for leadership! As a leader of a remote team, how did you respond in a Zoom call with a team member being interrupted by barking dogs, children somersaulting in the background? Did you reschedule the call, hand over to someone else, or understood, empathised and engaged at a human level with your employee? This is the new world of virtual team management and leaders need to step up, role model behaviours to others, establish connected teams and lead with courage and purpose. We need to build our leadership skills based on the best of the best.
For more than 25 years, I have held leadership positions worldwide and through my experience, research and study, I have come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader. In my opinion, I believe we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, doing rather than telling.
Leadership highlights the need for role modelling
A July 2020 article by Alexa Von Tobel “What Working from Home can Teach us about Leadership” highlights that employees crave flexibility and remote work and this lays the foundation for our work to become better integrated into our lives. Major companies like Facebook, Google, and others have already said that employees can work from home and Twitter has made their working from home policy indefinite. Also, while high productivity has become evident, teams need to unite around a sense of purpose, leaders need to be vulnerable and authentic. Adopting these principles will prepare you and your company for whatever the remainder of 2020 throws our way.
Cover all your bases in Leadership
My blog “Great Checklist for the Managers of Remote Workers,” indicated that remote working has become a necessity where possible. While some workers have already been working this way and are used to it, the current pandemic adds a new layer of uncertainty to even the most seasoned remote workers. These uncertain times are causing even the most confident managers to feel uneasy. They not only have to adapt to a new working style that they likely have no experience in, but also try to help their staff cope as well.
If you’re managing a remote workforce, or are going to be very soon, I’ve put together these checklists to help you make sure you have your bases covered. Each checklist covers a different aspect of remote working and, as you check off each point, it will help you to feel confident moving in this new direction.
It’s time to be courageous and kind to yourself (and your team) as you adjust to working remotely using these tips:
- Get Your Technology In Order
- Set Goals
- Foster Trust And Engagement
- Promote And Maintain Healthy Work And Life Practices
- Communicate
- Encourage Social Interactions And Fun
- Handle Administrative And Contractual Considerations
- Inspire Innovation
Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes we need help. I am always here.
Get in touch today to learn more about how to Lead others Working from Home and set yourself up for success!
Stay Kind. Stay Courageous.
Sonia x
About The Author Sonia McDonald and LeadershipHQ
Sonia McDonald is the CEO and founder of LeadershipHQ and McDonald Inc. Sonia is a in demand keynote speaker, leadership coach and advisor, author and facilitator.
She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, doing rather than telling and is known for her mantra ‘just lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her one on one practical coaching, leadership training for teams and organisations encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped hundreds of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others. Also she and her team have worked and partnered with a number of businesses and companies for over a decade build great leadership teams and cultures.
For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of Human Resources, Leadership and People and Culture. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.
Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is recognised as a LinkedIn influencer and has become an in-demand keynote speaker, starts important conversations.
She is an award-winning published author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! and writes regularly for publications such as The Australian, HRD Magazine, Smart Healthy Women and Women’s Business Media. Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, championing the up and coming leaders of tomorrow, advocating for women in business as well as building leaders in small business.
Keynote Topics for 2020
Sonia will give you peace of mind when booking a speaker. She is a proven world-class professional speaker with the skills to “rock an audience”. Her energy, empathy, kindness, sensitivity, and humour will enhance any event she appears.
1. Leadership Attitude
2. Just Rock It
3. First Comes Courage
4. Courage is Impact
5. Courage is Purpose
6. Courage is Resilience
7. Courage is Kindness
Phone 1300 719 665
Follow Sonia below –
https://www.instagram.com/sonia_speaker/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonia-mcdonald/
About LeadershipHQ
Outstanding Leadership Starts with You.
The key to success today is Great Leadership. Your leaders lead your culture and it’s the culture which drives your strategy.
We partner with organisations and businesses to grow great, kind and courageous leaders through bespoke leadership development programs and individual and group coaching – face-to-face and online.
We also celebrate and showcase great leadership through our Outstanding Leadership Awards and the Just Lead Podcast.
If you are a great leader or organisation, who wants to be even greater, we’d love to work with you.
Great Leadership begins with us.
