There are many complaints about everyone going on mute and doing other work during an online meeting. Do your remote coworkers consider your questions a sign that you do not trust them enough? Or do you think your coworkers can do all the work without you meddling?
Well, these all can be true, but very often these are just merely your assumptions. In case they are, you may not be aware of a potentially dangerous situation, claims the management-issues.com website.
Why assumptions are dangerous
Our assumptions are basically very useful. They form our framework, they are our working models. Problems appears only when the outcomes and results are not appropriately close enough to our assumptions and therefore to our expectations.
Consistent communication
As the deadline approaches, we all have the tendency to check the work more often. Your legitimate attempts to help could be misinterpreted. It may seem that you don’t trust your people enough. To prevent that, make your communication expected, scheduled and periodic.
Clarified assignments and enough of trust
Is the understanding of the task assigned the same on both sides? Are you in touch often enough? If not, troubles can be expected. Although a lack of contact may be based on you trusting in someone, the other side can consider it to be an effort to cut him off and neglect him. You surely don’t want your teammates to feel that you do not care enough about them. Try to talk about the issue of trust and contact as well as talking about the assignments.
For honest answers ask open ended questions
Don’t ask “do you understand?” because it is rather difficult to answer this question negatively. Ask instead “do you need anything?” or “what might help you to successfully do this?”. Remember that no one likes to sound unconfident and uncertain. Any assistance you or your team can provide must be clearly available and gently offered.
-jk-