According to the survey, CEOs recognise how unprepared their organisations are to meet the challenges of a remote workplace. Therefore, organisations, and especially executives, need to strengthen their virtual leadership skills. The steps described below may help.
Provide the right tools
Ensure team members have the proper tools for their job. Does everyone really understand how to use the available technical tools for video conferencing, remote communication, direct messaging project management, etc.? Or do you only assume they do? Giving people tools doesn't mean they can actually use them.
Hold video conferences
Schedule regular video conferences, both individually and as a team. This can help promote connection and accountability. But don't do conferences just for sake of it. Each one should have clear content.
Show empathy
Listen and try to understand the challenges, needs and concerns of employees about working in the virtual world. Take an employee's perspective and perceive what the other person is thinking and feeling.
Share recognition
Let employees know regularly how much you value their work. Praise is an antidote to negativity and burnout. Never miss an opportunity to show gratitude and express thanks for a job well done.
Communicate
Share a strong sense of vision for the future in order to allay employee and customer concerns.
Stay present and keep track
Show self-awareness and also an awareness of how your teams are doing. Share your thoughts and your plans for what comes next.
Finish
Do what you say you will do, once you've said it. This factor creates a sense of trust and loyalty from your employees who support you.
Prevention and solution of burnout syndrome
- Show your teams you understand the personal and professional challenges they face right now. Empathy is the single most influential factor that helps prevent burnout.
- Dust off your coaching and delegation skills and ability to influence. Teams should be aware of how you outsource work and coach people so they may succeed in the job.
- Become a master of vision and strategy communication so that teams know not only what is changing, but also why.
- Maintain the fundamentals of your faith, mission, core values and definition of corporate culture.
- Find the strength to remind yourself why you became a leader and train responses to change. Employees look for a strong symbol of leadership, self-confidence and the courage to throw themselves forward into the abyss of the unknown.
Taking strategic action helps alleviate a state of panic. Create a list of priorities in order, starting from the most strategic. Focus on the reality of the situation and only on what matters: your employees and customers. Create a communication strategy for each group in the organisation. Decide what you need to communicate and the most effective way to communicate it.
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