In conversation with Yala’s Managing Partner Barry Prost, we asked him the following 4 questions about leading teams virtually.
It is hard to lead a team virtually and many businesses are struggling to do so. But Yala has perfected the balance and how to work virtually effienctly too.
1) What are the benefits of leading a team virtually?
Can control the interactions – fewer interruptions! We have an open-door policy in our office where we encourage people to approach management with issues and problems. However thanks to remote working – one unintended positive consequence is that there are fewer people coming into your office so it is easier to get things done!
2) What are the challenges of leading a team virtually?
“Management by walking around” is completely gone – I think, as a manager, you miss as the ability to walk around the office and catch up with the team informally to gauge things like motivation and get a sense generally of the mood in the team.
3) How can leaders in companies lead effectively virtually and any hints?
In our webinar in June on “Employee Resilience Leadership in a crisis” – Dr Patrick Flood Professor of Organizational Behaviour at DCU in DCU spoke about ‘checking in’ on staff rather than ‘checking on’ them.
In addition to reinforcing the importance of communication – I think Patrick was making the point around this idea of ‘servant leadership and as managers checking in on what we can offer staff to enable them to perform better.
Q4: What’s the most important thing we can do to help employees work remotely and more successfully?
We conducted a company survey over the summer to get a sense of how people were doing. While over 80% of our team felt supported by management during the current crisis and 90% are happy to be remote working, a key area that we needed to address was providing more communication and feedback around both individual and company performance.
Barry Prost is Managing Partner of Yala, a recruitment and employer branding consultant. Tel: 01 693 3357 Email: barry@yala.ie
Watch Video: 4 Tips to leading a team virtually – Barry Prost
Barry Prost
Managing Partner
15 years’ experience recruiting senior managers for major international consultants and contractors. Barry is one of the founding directors of Propel. Prior to this, Barry worked for 10 years for Randstad, the 2nd largest recruitment organisation in the world. Managing teams across the UK and Ireland & delivering recruitment solutions to major clients. Barry is a graduate in International Business from Trinity College Dublin. He has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Smurfit School of Business.
“My favourite food is anything with quinoa”
