Have you ever led an online meeting or teleconference and had trouble getting input from participants? Does it feel like nobody is responding or participating? I’m going to guess that the problem isn’t whether you are asking for questions and feedback, it’s how you’re asking. Most of us honestly try to engage our audience and give them a chance to participate. We often ask, … [Read more...]
Treating Remote Workers Equally Doesn’t Mean Treating Them the Same
If you have a hybrid team—one where some of your folks work in a central location and some are teleworking or off-site—you have probably heard your share of whining that you’re treating one part of the team differently than the other. It might sound something like this: “The people who work from home, have it made. They don’t have to commute, can wear what they want, and don’t … [Read more...]
How to Find the Right Mentor
by Chuck Chapman, Contents Strategy Coordinator On the road to success, there are very few "Lewis and Clark" situations any more. Like geography, there aren't many professional frontiers where you will find yourself treading in uncharted territory. For most if not all of your journey, there are others who have gone before you who can help you navigate the tricky parts...if … [Read more...]
Share the Learning on Remote Teams
One of the most important functions of a team is to share knowledge and learning. Whether you're determining the fastest way to solve a customer problem or where the the creamer is in the break room, we all have a constant need for new data in our lives. When we work apart from each other, that information sharing may not happen without a little nudge. As both a leader and a … [Read more...]
Is Business Communication Evolving or Devolving?
Has communicating over distance, especially since so many of us work remotely now, really changed over the past few years? Last week’s post about the use of emojis at work raised some hackles among readers. Some fell into the camp of “They’re cute and help create an informal, friendly relationship, stop being such a fuddy-duddy.” The other group (and I’m paraphrasing) believes … [Read more...]