Leading Remote Teams: 7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Team Engaged
Strategies to Boost Engagement in Your Remote Team
👋 Hello, I’m Carlos, and welcome to my newsletter, “The Holistic Leader” Raw notes from an Agile Coach. Share your questions with me here, and in exchange, I'll provide practical, grounded, and clear advice.
Today’s Overview:
In this article, we explore seven practical strategies to enhance engagement and productivity in remote teams.
1. Use Humor
2. Take Breaks
3. Ask Questions
4. Change the Subject
5. Share Your Thoughts
6. Talk to Specific People
7. Make a Silly Suggestion
Welcome to this week's Agile Pulse
Every Wednesday, I’ll share insights and valuable things that I wish I had known when I started on my own Agile journey.
Whether you’re leading an Agile team, a Scrum Master, Agile leader or just curious, this series is just for you.
7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Team Engaged
keeping your team engaged isn't just nice to have—it's essential.
Let’s talk about how you can keep your team happy and involved.
Even when everyone is working from different places.
Think of yourself as the captain of a ship.
Your job isn't just to watch.
So, how can you be a great leader for your remote team?
Let's look at some simple ways you can help everyone feel more connected and get more done, no matter where they are.
1. Use Humor:
A little bit of fun can make meetings more enjoyable.
You don’t have to be super funny, just keeping things light can help a lot.
Example: In the middle of a tense meeting, lighten the mood by joking and sense how they respond or react. +Positive or -Negative
✅ Humor reduces stress and builds connections among team members. A well-timed joke can diffuse tension, making it easier to tackle difficult topics.
2. Take Breaks:
Don’t let meetings go on too long without a break.
Pausing lets everyone catch their breath and can help keep focus sharp when you start again.
Example: During a long strategic planning session, schedule a 10-minute break every hour.
Announce, "Let’s take a quick 10 to recharge. Grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and we'll regroup fresh."
✅ Scheduled breaks help prevent fatigue and maintain concentration.
They provide a mental rest, allowing team members to return refreshed and ready to engage more effectively.
3. Ask Questions:
Make sure everyone understands what's going on by asking clear questions.
This helps clear up any confusion and makes sure everyone knows what’s expected.
Example: During a sprint planning session, ask, "What do you think could be potential roadblocks for this sprint?"
If you don't get much response, rephrase it: "Can anyone identify specific tasks that might take longer than expected?"
✅ Asking questions, especially in varied ways, ensures that all team members understand the task and feel involved.
It promotes individuals to think critically and express their views.
4. Change the Subject:
If you’re stuck on one topic and not getting anywhere, it might help to switch to something else for a while.
This can keep the energy up and avoid frustration.
Example: If a discussion about a specific feature is going nowhere, switch topics: "Let's park this topic for now and move on to discussing our next feature approach for the new release."
✅ If a discussion becomes unproductive, changing the subject can prevent frustration and the wasting of valuable time.
It helps maintain momentum in the meeting by focusing on topics where progress is possible, ensuring the overall productivity of the session isn’t compromised.
5. Share Your Thoughts:
Your ideas as a Scrum Master are important.
Share them at the end of the discussion to help guide the team without pushing them in a certain direction too soon.
Example: After a discussion on project priorities, share your perspective: "From my experience, focusing on feature X first could help us address customer feedback more effectively."
✅ When you share your insights at the end of a discussion, it helps to guide the decision-making process without overshadowing others' contributions.
This approach respects the collaborative nature of the team while leveraging your experience as a Scrum Master or Agile Leader to steer outcomes subtly.
6. Talk to Specific People:
Sometimes, ask specific people in your team for their thoughts.
This helps quieter team members feel included and ensures everyone gets a chance to speak.
Example: Notice that a usually quiet team member hasn't spoken much.
Direct a question specifically to them, "Alex, how do you feel about the proposed solution in your area of the project?"
✅ Directing questions to specific individuals, especially quieter ones, gives them a sense of inclusion and importance in the team.
It encourages participation from those who might not speak up on their own, ensuring diverse input and that everyone’s perspectives are considered.
(That’s what we’re looking for) + Different Ideas
7. Make a Silly Suggestion:
Sometimes, suggest something a bit wild to get everyone thinking creatively.
This can lead to finding better ways to solve problems.
Example: If your team is stuck in a rut during a brainstorming session, throw out an exaggerated idea: "What if we design our software to work on Mars?"
✅ A silly suggestion can break the monotony of a routine meeting and spark laughter or creative thinking.
It shifts the brain into a more open and imaginative mode, often leading to innovative solutions that wouldn't have emerged in a strictly serious discussion.
(keep it in mind 😉)
Final Thoughts💡
Remember,
Even when we're not in the same room.
Being a great leader is like being the captain of a ship.
It's your job to make sure everyone is involved, and knows where they're heading.
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Thanks for reading
See you next week!
- Carlos ✌️