Guidance for Leaders with Dispersed Teams

Strategy	Why use this strategy?
Develop systems and routines for the team e.g. hold team meetings at the same everyday/week	People need certainty and clarity to meet your expectations and stay focused
Check in regularly with every team member individually	They may be feeling overwhelmed
Listen to their concerns, ideas and thoughts to how they want/need to achieve their tasks	They may have some insights that can help move the team forward to achieve goals
Use this time to get to know each of your team members and their families	Let them see your human side
Create a shared purpose and sense of belonging as a team	They may be missing the companionship of their team members
Create processes to show your appreciation of their contribution	They may be feeling isolated and undervalued at this time.

Strategy	Why use this strategy?
Identify your own emotions - look after yourself and seek support so that you can respond well to other people’s emotions and not judge harshly	You may be feeling anxious, angry or fearful and this is contagious
Talk to your team about what matters –be present focus on the facts and what can be controlled	Give certainty and focus attention on what can be done
Identify your team’s and the individual team members priorities; what is really important? What can the team do, what is asking too much as this moment and can temporarily wait	Don’t overwhelm them as they create new routines, give them a roadmap.
Set clear goals with the team that are achievable now	They understand the context and purpose and you understand their home lives and commitments
Turn your expectations into visuals e.g. set up visual boards for targets attainment, share your concepts in a diagram	Shared purpose and focus
Trust your team members even though you can’t see the working – give them their control	They will show what they are capable of and where they need support

Strategy	Why use this strategy?
Set rules i.e. all team members are on video, no phones, no distractions	You can then see who is coping well and who is disconnecting
Start with ‘how are you’ and ask them to share a highlight or something humorous in their day/ week	They will see that you care about them and it is not all about the task and making money
Be present and actually listen to what they are saying	They will feel you are there, and you value them and in turn give back
Not all of the meeting has to be task focused, make some time for fun	This will lift them positively

Strategy	Why use this strategy?
Consider your teams normal ‘rituals’ e.g. birthdays, targets celebrations and find a new creative way to continue	Give them some ‘normality’ in an unpredictable world and bring a sense of belonging to the team
Create social moments e.g. E drinks on a Friday night	End the week on a high