Psychological Safety in Remote Teams | Dr. Will Ramey

How to build psychological safety into remote teams

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

The future of work is changing and that includes the work environment itself. Remote teams have increased, and leaders need to instill psychological safety within their remote teams, just like their face-to-face teams. I share three tips of how to use technology to create psychological safety within your remote team so you can maintain high performance and cohesion.

Developing Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

Do you feel disconnected from your remote team? Are you struggling to build trust and communication among team members who are not physically together? It’s time to stop ignoring the challenges of remote teams and start fostering psychological safety.

Building psychological safety in remote teams can be challenging due to the lack of face-to-face interaction and isolation. However, leaders who use technology to facilitate communication and collaboration and create a sense of connection and community among team members can foster psychological safety and build a high-performing remote team.

For a deep dive check out “Hybrid: A Guide for Successfully Leading On-Site and Remote Teams” by Travis Hearne. I connected with Travis through a mutual friend. Travis is a nine-year USMC veteran and CEO of Titanium Leadership. We both share the desire to equip leaders, with the skills and abilities they need to lead well and be successful no matter if their team is in person, remote, or a hybrid.

How to Cultivate Psychological Safety in Remote Teams

Making your team comfortable with taking risks and feeling safe to be creative is a daunting challenge when they all work under one roof. It is possible to shape a psychologically safe remote work environment. Most of us were thrust into leading remote or hybrid teams within the past three years. It was a struggle for me at first because I enjoyed the spontaneous collisions and moments of levity throughout the day with my team. We adapted quickly to insert social moments on top of our business communication cadence when we switched to a hybrid environment.

Here are three tips to get you started:

1. Use video conferencing, instant messaging, and real time collaborative tools to facilitate communication and collaboration among remote team members. These tools allow for real-time interaction and can help create a sense of connection.
2.  Create a sense of community by scheduling regular team-building activities and virtual social events. Making time and encouraging remote team workers to connect for a virtual coffee allows them to get to know one another and build trust.
3. Address isolation and feelings of disconnection by encouraging team members to take breaks, step away from their screens, and engage in activities that promote mental and physical well-being. A team that is healthy and well-rested is more likely to be productive and engaged.

Adapting to the Future of Work

It’s time to adapt and overcome the challenge of working with a remote team. By using technology, building a sense of connection and community, and addressing isolation, you can create a high-performing remote team.

Remember that developing psychological safety in remote teams is an ongoing process that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt and change. The use of technology can help but it’s also important to understand that it can’t replace human interaction and the importance of addressing isolation.

Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

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