In the latest Episode of our series on supporting remote workers John and Lou dive into best practices for effective virtual meetings and personalized engagement. Learn how to keep teams connected, foster open communication, and avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement. If you lead remote teams, this episode is a must-listen.

Show Notes:

Intro:

•John and Lou introduce the sixth episode in their series on remote work, highlighting the growing importance of remote leadership in today’s workplace.

•Discussion on how IT leaders must lead the charge in supporting sustainable remote work models.

Episode 1-5 Recap:

•A quick review of previous episodes, including insights on lighting, audio, and IT’s role in remote work sustainability.

•Encouragement to revisit earlier episodes for foundational tips on remote work setups.

•https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVM_ZQKTOQjwFcJNUf_LMdwO7HgVfmPYA&si=J442o8MSMmRAgxL6

Section One - Regular Virtual Meetings With a Purpose:

•Weekly Team Check-ins:

•Schedule purposeful team meetings with clear agendas published ahead of time.

•Tips for scheduling across time zones, including rotating times to accommodate global teams.

•John’s advice on avoiding vague meeting invites like “Sync Up” and ensuring time is well-utilized.

•Inclusivity and Respect:

•Consider international holidays and cultural customs when planning meetings.

•Use tools like international holiday calendars to avoid scheduling conflicts.

•Europe - https://www.qppstudio.net/public-holidays/europe.htm

•APEC - https://www.qppstudio.net/public-holidays/apec.htm 

•Wellness Check-ins:

•Start meetings with voluntary wellness updates to build trust and empathy among team members.

•This practice humanizes teams and fosters stronger collaboration.

•Rotating Facilitators:

•Encourage team members to lead meetings to develop leadership skills and build confidence.

•Tailor this approach to individual comfort levels and provide coaching when needed.

Section Two - Tailored Engagement:

•1-on-1 Meetings:

•Schedule regular check-ins tailored to individual team members’ needs.

•Focus on addressing roadblocks and offering support.

•John critiques Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky’s take on 1-on-1 meetings and shares why they’re critical for remote workers.

•Flexible Communication Styles:

•Adapt meetings and feedback to match team members’ preferences and strengths.

•Provide anonymous channels for idea submission to encourage input from introverted employees.

•Avoiding Micromanagement:

•Trust team members by setting clear goals and reducing unnecessary oversight.

•Lou emphasizes that micromanagement often stems from a lack of confidence in leadership.

•Strategies for transitioning from micromanagement to coaching-focused leadership.

Wrap Up:

•The next episode will cover asynchronous communication tools, team-building activities, and recognizing team contributions.

•Reach out via [email protected] or on X @ITSPARCCast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.