Strengthen Your Executive Impact for the New Distributed Work Environment

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."​ ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Any leader worth their salt knows that discipline and determination are key to having influence and impact in any work environment. But, what happens when the traditional office setting gives way to a more distributed model? Leaders may find themselves feeling less connected to their teams and less able to exert their influence. Fortunately, there are a few key things that leaders can do to overcome these challenges and continue to have a significant impact in a distributed work environment.

"Impact in business and in martial arts requires the exact same training plan that includes discipline, determination, and deliberate intentions." states Patrick Tan, Founder & CEO of Golden Point Executives, as he recalls his karate classes from his childhood. "To chop several layers of wood with my bare hands or feet, I needed to be disciplined enough to train for several months to strengthen my body; I needed to be determined to accomplish this special demonstration of skill and power; and I needed to be mentally focused and deliberate about the motion of my chopping hand or kicking foot against those layers. Easing up on any of these could've caused me a serious injury. And, in business, the cost of showing up with little or no impact can be significantly high and, in some instances, debilitating to the organization."

Strengthen your executive impact for the new distributed work environment by harnessing discipline using clear expectations, by leveraging your determination using strong and effective communications, and by enhancing your influence and impact using high empathy.

Setting Clear Expectations

One of the most important things a leader can do in a distributed work environment is set clear expectations. This means ensuring that team members understand what is expected of them, what the goals of the project are, and what their role is in achieving those goals. Leaders should also be clear about what is and isn’t acceptable behavior in terms of communication and collaboration. This Society for Human Resource Management article provides 6 tips on setting expectations for employees. By setting clear expectations, leaders can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.

Clear expectations can be strengthened for the team in terms of deadlines, deliverables, and communication. This includes communicating when tasks are due and what is expected from each team member, as well as specifying any penalties for missed deadlines. Without these boundaries, it will be difficult for any leader to maintain discipline and keep their team on track. By establishing these boundaries, leaders can ensure that employees are held accountable and stay on track.

Staying Connected With Effective Communication

Communication is key to any successful team. When working in a distributed environment, it’s especially important for leaders to make an effort to stay connected with their teams. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through video conferencing, chat software, or simply picking up the phone. Leaders should also make an effort to be transparent and communicative with their teams about their goals and objectives, and solicit input from team members whenever possible. By staying connected and communicative, leaders can help ensure that their teams are productive and cohesive, no matter where they are located.

Creating a sense of community can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Leaders can encourage team bonding by holding regular video conferences, using chat software to communicate, and setting up social media groups for employees to share updates and collaborate. This Forbes Communication Council article provides great tips on how to leverage these communication tools. It’s also important for leaders to make an effort to know their employees on a personal level. This can be done by asking them about their hobbies, family, and interests. By fostering a sense of community, leaders can help create a productive and positive work environment, even when team members are located remotely.

Managing With High Empathy

In order to maintain a positive and productive relationship with employees, it is important for leaders to build trust. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through regular communication, setting clear expectations, and being transparent and communicative with teams. Leaders should also make an effort to show that they care about their employees’ well-being and success. By building trust, leaders can help create a positive and productive work environment, even in a distributed setting.

As found in a Genos International study with large distributed government agency, leaders who were better at expressing their own emotions were perceived as more genuine and trustworthy. With higher empathy, leaders and their teams were also better at managing their own emotions and positively influencing the way others felt resulting in improved resilience, teamwork and relationships. They understand that their employees are working in a different environment, and they make an effort to accommodate them by being communicative and supportive. Leaders who are empathetic also understand that their employees have lives outside of work, and they respect their time by not requiring them to be available 24/7. In addition, leaders with high empathy are able to connect with their employees on a personal level, which helps to build trust and create a positive work environment.

Conclusion

Leaders in a distributed work environment need to find new ways to maintain their discipline, determination and influence. Managers of virtual teams need to be even more disciplined and determined than those leading traditional teams. In addition to setting clear expectations and staying connected with team members, leaders of virtual teams need to be proactive in managing communication and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Leaders should also make an effort to create a positive and productive work environment, which can be done by building trust and providing regular feedback. By setting clear expectations, communicating effectively and empathizing with team members, leaders can continue to have a positive and strong impact on their teams and businesses.

Are you looking for help strengthening your executive impact and overcoming the challenges of new working environments? Contact us today to have a conversation about how we can help.