Set your intention for how you want to show up to remote meetings. Good posture, positivity and a well-timed smile translate even over video. Photo: Outsourcingstaff.com.
May Busch says just because you work in another part of town, in another city, or even another country, does not mean you can’t have meaningful relationships with your colleagues and bosses.
When you work remotely, it can be difficult to build relationships with stakeholders.
After all, you’re not going to get the chance to bump into them in the elevator and connect over having the same coffee order.
This is a common challenge one of the people who attend my Career Mastery sessions asked me about recently. She wanted to know some of the best ways a remote worker can build relationships with her clients, colleagues and superiors.
Here are three quick tips I gave her.
Take advantage of the tools your organisation provides: Whether it’s Slack, Zoom, or something else, you want to make sure you’re communicating and visible.
No-one will be able to see you working hard at your desk, so it is up to you to provide some virtual cues instead.
Give people a glimpse of who you are outside of work: This could look like asking your colleagues or boss a question when you’re on a Zoom meeting a few minutes early.
For example: “What was the highlight of your week?” Or sharing more than a generic: “Fine, thanks” when someone asks how you are.
Getting insight into each other’s lives can help you build stronger relationships – and it doesn’t have to happen all at once; it can develop gradually over time.
Invest in your virtual presence: For better or worse, the way you appear on camera is important.
It’s in your interest to invest in a quality webcam, good lighting and a professional background.
You also want to be purposeful in how you show up in virtual meetings (and even in emails). What tone and vibe are you bringing to the meeting?
Set your intention for how you want to show up and the impression you give others. Good posture, positivity and a well-timed smile translate even over video.
Which tip will provide the most help to start building relationships with your remote stakeholders? Or do you have another strategy that has worked for you?
May Busch’s mission is to help leaders and their organisations achieve their full potential. She works with smart entrepreneurs and top managements to build their businesses. She can be contacted at [email protected]. This article first appeared on May’s blogsite.
