Leading remote teams

This programme provides a practical insight into the challenges of remote teamwork and identifies key focus areas to enable optimal performance.

Level

Programme is appropriate for learners at entry, intermediate and advanced levels.

Objectives

• To identify key focus areas for developing remote high performance teams
• To raise awareness of personal style and leaders impact on the remote team
• To identify strengths and development areas for own teams
• To develop a strategy for working and achieving together remotely
• To develop confidence through practical exercises and simulations

Process

Experiential Exercise – Bridge Building – interactive experience on remote teams

Remote Teamwork – Defining a remote team. Identifying key challenges – common purpose, communication, cohesion, decision making, etc.

Different Perspectives – Explore the impact of remote teams from the team member and team leader perspectives.

Team Development – Five stages – forming, storming, norming, performing and de-forming (Tuckman). Processes – purpose & identify, communication, organisation, decision-making, climate and culture (Douglas).

Team Assessment – Radar Chart – self-assess teams using Tuckman / Douglas matrix. Discussion – identifying key strengths and development areas.

Remote Team Leader – Leader’s role. Styles of leadership (EI) – directive, visionary, affiliative, collaborative, pace setting and coaching (Goleman). Self-assessment. Implications. Flexing leader’s impact to team’s level of development.

Remote Performance Management – Understanding the challenge of performance management with remote teams. GROW Coaching. Constructive feedback.

Common Purpose – Team’s purpose – why do we exit? Shared future vision. SMART objectives – hard and soft. Communicating this vision.

Strength in Diversity – Awareness of personal style. Self-assessment – psychometric. Managing diverse needs / preferences in remote teams. Impact of own style as remote team leader.

Team Strategy – Strategy for working together / achieving remotely. Team matrix – assessment of team member’s styles, strengths and development areas.

Communication – Open communication. Johari’s Window. Team’s strengths and weaknesses. Different communication media – email, tele / video conferencing.

Organisation – Role clarity. Levels of structure – formal and informal. Matching roles to vision / objectives. Diverse roles (Belbin).

Climate & Cohesion – Awareness of climate and cohesion. Building effective relationships. Transactional Analysis (TA).

Decision-Making – Levels of decision-making. Risks of indecision. Tools – decision tables, circles of influence & concern, 5 Cs of decision-making.

STOP, START, CONTINUE – Identify key actions to stop, start or continue to enhance remote team performance.
Leading Change – Impact of change on remote teams. Creating the climate for change. DREC.

Options

1 or 2 day workshop for approx. 8 to 10 learners, with 1 or 2 facilitators, with the possibility of using professional role players.

For more information about our training services please call us on 0800 072 9844 or email us.