It is clear that more and more companies are aiming for a flexible and economical work environment to get through this dark period of the economy, driven by the pandemic.
Building a relationship of trust between the different actors of the organization is however an obstacle to all organizations that count towards the leap. Yet, according to a Harvard Business Review study, the trust established in a work environment can increase organizational productivity by 50%, improve employee engagement by 76%, reduce employee stress. staff by 74% and better align results to business goals by 70%.
Certainly, in a virtual workplace, in the absence of informal interactions between the actors of the company, it becomes more difficult to establish solid relations. Often coworkers get lost in such an environment, unable to intuitively detect external behavioral influences. In short, digital communication leaves room for many misunderstandings.
So how can leaders ensure that such a relationship of trust is established or maintained in a virtual workplace?
It comes down to a number of factors. The first is empathy.
It might seem pretty obvious: you have to treat people with respect to create an environment of trust. However, how can this rule be applied in a virtual environment?
This means that you have to be flexible, understand that working from home can create specific difficulties for each colleague. In practice, successful leaders usually set aside time to work with each employee one-on-one. In addition, they regularly organize weekly team meetings, on Zoom or on Google Meet for example, to maintain contact. In short, they recognize the importance of communication, and so they create opportunities for it.
Building trust in the virtual workplace also requires skills.
We’re talking about strong leadership skills here. Given the environment conducive to misinterpretation, it is imperative that leaders place communication high on their priority list. They don’t always need to know everything, but they do need to be honest with their subordinates. These actions constitute a solid basis for their team.
Remote leadership demands reliability .
In order for employees to have confidence in their peers, their employer (or leaders) and the company, it is essential to keep their words. If you have promised to send follow-up documents at a certain point, make sure you do so within the deadline. Stick to your commitments, try not to cancel meetings at the last minute, let your team know that you value their time.
It is also necessary to promote opportunities to create interpersonal bonds .
Finally, to successfully manage a virtual team, you need to create a real connection between team members. For example, make sure each attendee’s camera is turned on in virtual meetings, as a direct gaze on the camera mimics eye contact. Favor virtual meetings, and limit exchanges in writing or by phone calls.
In short, it is possible and easy to establish a bond of trust in a virtual workplace. If you are still hesitant to adopt the virtual model for fear of not being able to build or maintain a bond of trust among the staff, know that virtual offices remain, after all, a flexible and economical solution to get through this dark period of the economy, driven by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Trust Nuage B! It offers you more than a simple virtual office: it offers you a flexible solution allowing you to take advantage of a trendy business address in Montreal, access to fully equipped conference rooms, as well as service live receptionist to take charge of your call management. Contact us to know more about our virtual office service!
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Virtual offices: How to establish a bond of trust in a virtual workplace? It’s probably easier than you think!
Building a relationship of trust between the different actors of the organization is an essential element for the success of the company. Yet it is possible! If you are still hesitant to adopt the virtual model for fear of not being able to build or maintain a bond of trust among the staff, know that virtual offices remain a flexible and economical solution to get through this dark period of the economy, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Don’t wait any longer, contact Nuage B to find out how the virtual office service can help your business!
