How to lead a scattered workforce

The pandemic is quickly changing not just how we work but where we work — and that will continue to evolve over time. Right now, all of our people are working from home. However, once we are able to go back into the office, our teams will be made up of people who are working in the office full time, working remote full time, and those who are working some combination of the two.

That means we need to adapt as leaders and learn how to successfully manage and engage a team working in multiple locations. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

It may seem rudimentary, but effective communication is at the foundation of leading a successful team, especially when your team is dispersed.

To effectively communicate with your team, you need to focus on three things:

1. CONSISTENCY

When it comes to a scattered workforce, you have to communicate — almost to the point of over-communicating. It’s important your team regularly hears from you and that they know you will provide them with the information they need to be successful. So, make sure you have regular team meetings and 1:1s with your people. And remember, 55% of communication is based on non-verbal cues, so try to make sure you meet with them face-to-face when possible — even if that face-to-face is virtual.

2. TRANSPARENCY

Transparent communication. You hear that phrase a lot at CHG. That’s because transparent communication is key to building trust with employees. It’s important to cultivate an open, honest, two-way communication with your people — even when it comes to tough conversations.

3. CONTEXT

As leaders, it’s our job to provide the context for our teams. In addition to sharing the how and what of something, make sure you’re also sharing the why behind it and tying it to the bigger picture. Our people need to know what their jobs entail AND why their jobs matter to the team and the company as a whole. Help your team connect those dots and show them how they are working toward a common goal.

Cultivate connection and camaraderie

Employees who feel a sense of connection and belonging with their coworkers are more engaged with their jobs. Creating that connection is going to be more important than ever in a highly flexible work environment.

You can cultivate connections by taking time to get to know each team member and building a relationship with them. Understand what their motivators are, how they like to be recognized and celebrated, and what they like most about their jobs and working with their coworkers. People want to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves. Show your people that they do.

Seek feedback

The best way to understand what is going on with your team is to ask. What works for them? What isn't working? What can you improve or do differently? Thoughtfully listen to that feedback, and then make the necessary changes to ensure you are creating the best experience for your people as well as showing them that their input is important.

Feedback is a crucial component of our core value of Continuous Improvement and it helps us to be the best leaders we can be. The side benefit is that feedback also allows you to build trust with your people and cultivate strong connections with them — all crucial elements to successfully leading a scattered workforce.