The significant increase of telecommuters over the last few years has given rise to a new type of problem. Remote work conflict can be a challenging issue to confront. Without the benefit of in-person interaction, it is easy to misinterpret a co-worker's words and actions. As a business leader, it is your job to ensure that this type of conflict does not escalate to the point where it is difficult to resolve. Here are five ways that you can help to handle issues between remote workers.
Savvy business leaders understand the importance of being accessible. Even when in a remote format, it is important to keep the lines of communication open. Some would argue that it is actually more important that you keep this communication ongoing when you are not meeting in person regularly. A great way to stay accessible is to simply communicate to your team that you are available for Zoom calls or to chat on Slack anytime they need to speak with you.
Think of it as an open-door policy, but digital. It can sometimes be difficult to get your workers to come to you when they are struggling. One way you can encourage your employees to feel comfortable coming to you is to hold regular team meetings and one on ones with each team member. As a leader, you have a responsibility to bring the team together and help everyone feel comfortable. Meeting regularly with each employee, planning team meetings, and fostering openness amongst your employees is key to your team’s success.
One of the best ways to prevent conflicts is to be accessible. If your team views you as being accessible, they will be more likely to reach out when issues arise. Nipping these problems in the bud before they fester and grow will go a long way in de-escalating conflict.
Just because your staff is not in a physical office, it does not mean that workplace gossip will not run rampant when given the chance. Even working remotely, there are plenty of opportunities for people to communicate quickly and privately with eachother. This type of talk can quickly spiral out of control, creating a toxic work environment.
The first step in preventing gossip is to not be a part of the problem. While it may be tempting to jump in on the latest juicy news, you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. Setting a good example will set the tone for the rest of the virtual workplace. If you make a mistake, it is also important to own up to it and apologize. Since most communication happens over digital platforms such as Zoom or Slack, it’s important to keep these digital communications safe and secured. Be sure to always record your Zoom meetings with team members so there is a record of what happened, and make sure your employees understand how to appropriately utilize platforms such as Slack for instant messaging.
Uncertainty in the rules naturally breeds conflict. Employees are more likely to act out if they do not have clear expectations laid out for them. Your responsibility as a leader in the organization is to set clear expectations and rules to follow.
This means that you need to have a transparent discipline policy in place. Staff members will be less likely to engage in negative behavior if they know that there are consequences for their actions. Workers will also be more likely to be good team members if they feel as if their contributions are valued. It’s possible that you may have employees who don’t understand what is and isn’t quite appropriate for the digital workplace. Be sure to hole regular HR training on things like harassment and behavior in the workplace. This training will remind your employees what is appropriate to discuss in the workplace and can reinforce your open-door policy as well.
If you notice a trend of increasing conflicts within your team, it may be time to sit down as a group and brainstorm ways to alleviate these issues. Do not make the mistake of thinking that your team will take the initiative to solve the issues on their own.
Instead, harness the creativity of your staff and find ways that everyone can work together to prevent and address conflicts. Working together as a team will make your staff stronger and able to confront future issues. In addition, this will empower your employees so that they feel as if they can be a vital part of the solution.
Just because you are working virtually, it does not mean that your team cannot connect in meaningful ways. It is a lot more difficult to get easily angered with your coworkers if you do not know them on a personal level. Setting up ways for your team to connect outside of a work environment can help to lessen conflicts as they pop up.
For example, a staff member may be silently annoyed with a worker on their team. However, when given the chance to interact with this coworker on a different level outside of the stress of the job may help to reduce the tension. If your team members all live in different areas of the world, there are things that you can do to virtually bring people together. Good ideas include virtual happy hours and game nights. These small and virtual gatherings are a cornerstone of company culture and success. By bringing your employees together in a positive and fun context, they are more likely to feel comfortable around you and each other. In turn, this will help your employees to squash conflict before it affects the team.
You will never completely eliminate internal conflicts from your virtual workspace. These types of issues are inevitable in the business world, even in the virtual space. However, having a plan of attack ready for when these conflicts arise will help you to run a better organization.
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