At Shaw Search Partners, we’re aware of the extreme amounts of change we’ve all experienced in 2020.

For this reason, it’s clear that focusing on leadership is more important now than ever. It can be the difference between an average and top performing virtual team. Focus on the whole person, be solution oriented and be open to exploring new opportunities for making things work.

We love this perspective from Rhett Power on Inc.com: “Old-school leaders can enjoy rigidity if they want, but employees expect the benefit of the doubt regarding how and when they work. Leaders in 2020 must fine-tune their asynchronous communication strategies to keep up with teams who no longer view full meeting rooms as necessary evils.”

1. Lead with emotional intelligence and pay attention to changes in team members’ behavior, attitudes or work performance. Sometimes a quick check in and review of how things are going can open the door for necessary conversations, readjusting of priorities and temporary redistributing of work loads if necessary.

2. Create an open dialogue with your team about support, communication and connection while working remotely. Ask them where they’re spotting potential issues in new processes and be open to receiving feedback and trying new tactics. When leaders make an effort to listen, team members feel buoyed from being heard and acknowledged.

3. Be flexible and adjust as needed. The pandemic might have created changes in the shape and structure of your team.

4. If you’re looking to recruit new talent for roles that have opened up, or become necessary due to changes in the workplace Shaw Search Partners can offer support and guidance.

5. Take care of yourself too. Advocating for your team and making sure they get the support they need is crucial, but it’s also important to make sure you’re doing this for yourself to avoid burnout. Try to set boundaries around when you’re disconnecting from the office and filling up your own cup. This can be more challenging for all of us when our homes have become our workplaces too. Be the example and leading successfully in a virtual workplace is within your reach!