Leadership in a Remote World

Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average. It was true in the factory, it was true in the office, and it is true on the video call.

The tools have changed. The principles have not.

In the past, you could see your team. You could walk by their desk. You could read their body language. Now, they are a square on a screen or a name in a chat window.

How do you lead when you are not there?

You must lead by example. If you are late to the Zoom call, you are teaching them to be late. If you are distracted, you are teaching them to be distracted.

You cannot demand what you do not display.

In a remote world, communication is king. You cannot assume they know. You cannot assume they understand. You must over-communicate. You must be clear. You must be kind.

Distance creates drifted. It is natural to drift apart when you are not together. As a leader, your job is to pull them back. Not with micromanagement, but with vision.

Remind them why they are working. Remind them where the ship is going.

The screen can hide many things. It can hide frustration. It can hide burnout. It can hide apathy. You must look closer. You must ask better questions. "How are you?" is not enough. "What is the biggest challenge you are facing this week?" is better.

Don't let the technology replace the humanity. We are still people. We still need encouragement. We still need correction. We still need to know that what we do matters.

Lead them. Even from afar.