Leading in a remote workplace is DIFFERENT than leading face to face.

Difference #1: DOORS 🚪

In an in-person office, you can use your door to communicate important messages:

🚪 wide open = “Come on in, have some candy, look at pictures of my kids, ask questions, hang out”
🚪 half shut = “I am approachable, but a little busy. If it is important, pop your in around the door and ask a question, but make it quick.
🚪 shut = “Don’t even think about bothering me.”

Here’s the thing…in a remote office, there are no doors.

We have to find new ways to communicate our level of busyness. And if we don’t clearly communicate when we are available, most employees will assume we are too busy to talk. Most employees, especially newer team members, will assume our door is closed.

So how do we communicate availability? By providing consistent, predictable space to ask questions. They might be
– daily check-ins
– office hours
– online work sessions
– a slack message that says “If you have any questions about the project, I am making myself available from 3-4 this afternoon. Let’s talk.”

Whatever the case, in the remote workplace, signals of availability need to be intentional, predictable and clear. That is just one important step in building trust at a distance.

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