How can you run a virtual meeting that builds morale, engages everybody and encourages them to contribute, when the environment is so very different from what we are familiar with?
I have been challenged in the last 2 weeks, supporting some of my manager coaches, not in how we practically manage remote teams but rather how we really stay connected to the people that we work with. Managers are now faced with dealing with so much more of the human and emotional side of team members!
It's inevitable that as soon as we're all based at home it's going to feel like there's a disconnect, feeling less a part of the central team, wondering if we missed out on the latest up. The lack of camaraderie can undermine the most important element if we want people to feel connected - maintaining relationships.
If we want to get everybody to participate in a meeting, now more than ever, be really clear about the purpose of the meeting. There are not usually very many - here are my top 4
Think carefully, what outcome do you want from this meeting?
Just like we would in any meeting, set clear guidelines: no phones, no multitasking, no checking emails etc. Set the expectation that remote meetings can be shorter and smarter than the meetings we normally have!
Spend some time simply checking in with people; ask how are you? What's the biggest challenge you faced this week? Perhaps start with the person who's least likely to speak. Agree a common question that everyone will answer, and remember, if you are chairing the meeting, be prepared to be honest yourself - for those of you who are fans of Patrick Lencioni, Steven Covey or Nancy Kline you’ll know leader vulnerability is key to building trust and collaborative working.
Nancy Klein’s ‘Time to Think’ provides us with two fantastic questions to ask when we come to a meeting under the current remote working conditions, these two questions could be transformational to the productivity and outcome of your online meeting and to building team cohesiveness.
In asking these two personal questions we'll bring in the reality of what people are dealing with in this current climate, it will enable us to really understand one another and build connection. We are not simply working at home, we are working in a situation where our personal lives are colliding with our work life and every team will come out the other side of this seeing and hearing their colleagues in a new light.
I have a useful resource to help you sustain teams during Covid-19 available to download especially if you need problem-solving or decision-making meetings.