Dr. Caroline Walker
Advances in technology, shifting attitudes in the workplace and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a rapid increase in remote working. But will this trend continue?
The benefits are clear for the employees, with increased flexibility and better work-life balance, which leads to increased morale and more productivity. Indeed, a recent survey from Flex Jobs showed that 80% of US workers would turn down a job that did not offer flexible working.
The business drivers for remote working are also very strong, with employers seeing the benefits of decreasing office costs, the ability to hire from a much larger talent pool to access specialist skills, as well as increased employee productivity and talent retention.
This increasing demand for ‘remote-friendly’ workplaces brings the demand for “remote-friendly” managers, who can effectively manage a virtual team. Developing remote leadership skills is therefore now an essential for businesses to remain competitive and take advantage of this trend.
What are the key skills for a virtual team leader?
Managing a remote team requires dialling up core skills such as being an exceptional communicator, building relationships, and creating trust: but the key is that virtual team leaders can use technology in a fluent way to do this.
The Institution offers managing virtual teams workshops focusing on how to adapt these core skills to remote working to ensure that the team works well together and deliver. These workshops have been designed to give managers a practical way to develop these skills and are available in both face-to-face and virtual classroom format, featuring practical tips and tools combined with providing the insight needed to motivate and manage remote workers.
Find out more about IMechE’s managing virtual teams training at imeche.org/lmmvt.
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