Welcome to the new normal, where everyone is working remotely and project managers are faced with the challenge of keeping their team together….when they aren’t working together. The dictionary definition of a team is a group of people coming together to achieve a common goal. Now, thanks to COVID-19, the only way we can come together is over the internet, not around the conference table.

We all feel the loss of social interaction in different ways. For people whose work relies on contact, like retail stores and hair salons, it sadly means a loss of income, while those who have always made a living from home, carry on as always. The majority of the workforce, though, has made the switch from onsite to remote, and the debate as to which is better is on.

While many people find working at home distracting and discouraging, many studies show it makes us more productive! One study on working from home from Bloomberg reported that people logged on for an additional three hours a day. Another study done from Stanford conducted over a three-year period found that people were 13 percent more productive working from home, and time normally spent commuting was spent working, totaling a full day’s work by the end of the week.  They also end up taking fewer sick days and days off, and employee attrition decreased by 50 percent. Many workers also reported being able to concentrate better at home.

Yet many project managers have grave concerns about working remotely with their teams.

Why?

One concern is social interaction. Although we can meet over the internet, for some personalities, the isolation can lead to burnout. Some team members will find working remotely very draining, and I can relate to this myself. Boundaries must be respected. Just because someone is at home, doesn’t mean they are constantly accessible. Employees must often learn to “stop work” at some point. IT project managers, in particular, must respect the idea of “working hours” and not take advantage of the freedom remote employees have at home. One way to fight social isolation is to have a social virtual meeting, for example, meet for a Friday night Happy Hour, or video show and tell, to keep the team connected on a personal level. Get creative and have fun with your team!

Another is an invasion of privacy. While collaboration tools such as “Zoom” or “Microsoft Teams” meetings are fine for many people, others don’t warm to the idea of being on video for work. They like to dress casually and don’t want to be forced to be onscreen. This again, should be respected and accepted by project managers.

However, the true secret to successfully managing your remote team during COVID-19 is to do something that’s very difficult to do: TRUST THEM.

I understand that it’s hard. You probably worry (and rightfully so) that they are camped out in front of the TV, out on a run, or doing virtually anything other than working during the day since there’s no way to guarantee that they’re not.  Maybe you haven’t gotten responses from them as quickly as you would if they were sitting in the cubical across the aisle. Where are they, you think in panic. What are they doing? But the important thing for you to do is to make your expectations known, and then TRUST THEM to meet or exceed those individual goals.

Another way to gain their trust is to give them a way to earn your trust. By offering kudos and letting others know that you appreciate their efforts, they will stay motivated to keep up the good work. Especially now, when it is easy to get discouraged, managers need to keep the team spirit alive. Highlight success stories among the team. Have your team share their triumphs for the week. Make encouragement a part of every meeting.

We don’t know how long we will be managing a remote team because of COVID-19, but we must continue to be creative and find ways to continue to do business. It involves awareness and sensitivity towards employee burnout and boundaries, but most of all, building trust between yourself and your teammates. It’s more important now than ever before, and it’s also the only way we will not only survive, but also thrive, in the “new normal.”