In fact, why perpetuate yesterday’s team dysfunction into any collaborative environment? Virtual or otherwise.
Regardless of whether you work entirely virtually or in a hybridized format, the playing field is flattened by the current scenario. Consider that the folks already were used to working remotely are at an advantage, moving forward. Because they optimize hybrid performance habits and deliverables. And, if you ask them nicely, they will tell you they prefer to work virtually.
Here’s why.
The remote virtual workers I’ve spoken with recently have a front row seat to your well-oiled team dysfunction habits. In fact, they can write your dysfunction playbook.
Over time, participation in your in-person team meetings become a reality show for them, a source of entertainment. Why? Because they see how team turbulence gradually builds up around the table. Which is a perspective you are unable to gain when you are seated in a face-off, across the table from “the usual suspects.” Even if your laptop is open, and providing a barrier, to that person seated across from you. Your emotions are showing, and your engagement and performance are impacted.
And, you already know who these folks were, in yesterday’s workplace, don’t you? The naysayers, disruptors, the folks who listen only to judge or criticize. Have you allowed them to carry their team dysfunction into your virtual meeting rooms, too?
Then, as the reality show continues, virtual workers watch other team members retreat from the emerging team dysfunction.
Shrinking into the background, overwhelmed once again by dominant personas who mostly like to hear themselves talk, because they know they always are right.
Plus, once meeting dynamics again succumb to team dysfunction, your historically remote, virtual workers do what they always do: hit the mute button and tune out. Until their visual cues indicate people have settled down or given up on accomplishing anything useful. Or someone indicates that it’s time for those virtual workers to tune back in.
Don’t you wish you could hit the “Mute” button during live meetings? Don’t you wish you could hit the “Pause Recording” button during these meetings and rewind, reset, recalibrate?
Consider the refinements in team performance you’ve accomplished while working virtually. How you deal with the folks who normally are habituated to disrupt. Or draw in people who are prone to silence and non-participation, if they even have their video camera on, at all.
Could it be that working virtually catalyzes that long-overdue one millimeter mindset shift for everyone to move beyond comfortable, ingrained, and potentially biased professional habits? Thus, working virtually becomes a vehicle for “normally” quiet team members to showcase their voices and stories and skills?
What habits and mindset will you carry forward into hybridized future work environments to catalyze your own professional development and cross-functional leadership trajectory? Because the future of you, your teams, and the clients you serve is just around the next corner, virtually and in-person.
What role will you play? Active participant or spectator? Why not lead, rather than follow? And why remain regarded as an order-taker, when you can become an innovator? Take these next steps to get started.
- Planning your next team, corporate or association meeting? Engage me to present one of my One Millimeter Mindset ™ speaking programs, workshops or mastermind groups. Delivered virtually or in-person. Contact me right here.
My One Millimeter Mindset™ virtual and in-person keynotes, workshops, coaching and mastermind programs translate across strategic communication and collaboration disconnects between people and professional disciplines. Build trust. Retain employees and clients. Optimize strategic business and human capital value in your organizations. Get everyone to where they need to go. Together. One millimeter at a time. My playbook of communication tools and methods, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com.
Image source: iStock / Getty image.
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