#Teams365 #809: Virtual Remote TEam Leadership A - Z: D is for

Virtual and remote team leaders need to be disciplined and dedicated in the work that they do. They need to be comfortable with delegation as it is likely not all the tasks they are responsible for can be done, given he remote nature of the business. Delegation in the virtual sense requires the foundations of delegation such as being clear on the task, and deliverables, working with others. At the same time in the virtual realm, delegation may involve more frequent touch points.


Discipline is required in a number of other ways as virtual team leaders.  Due to the geographic spread of virtual teams and varying local level realities, virtual team leader may need to be disciplined in terms of:

1. Outreach and communication with team members. Just because they are invited does not mean that they do not need support. Virtual team leaders may need to be able to plan and schedule these meetings regularly.
2. Discipline in micro-monitoring and not micro managing. Virtual team leaders need to feel comfortable with empowering their team members. They need to also place high levels of trust in those team members as well.
3. Discipline in planning and goal setting – While planning and goal setting is often last on our list, placing attention around this and  being able to communicate key priorities, timelines and actions to all team members is essential in helping them do their own levels of planning at the local level

What other items do you think are important in the areas of dedication and discipline?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Potentials Realized: Coaching | Teamwork | Leadership
Supporting Team Leaders to do their best work, one conversation at a time
Author of From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Authorized Partner of Everything DiSC and the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team