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How to Be a Successful Virtual Executive
I’ve been getting a number of questions lately about how you show up as an executive virtually. It’s a challenge — a huge amount of successful leadership is predicated on being able to be there in person. From ‘Management by Walking Around” to speeches, Town Halls, and even one-on-ones, most of leadership assumes that you’re going to be able to be there face-to-face in order to connect more powerfully with your employees.
I’ve begun an online coaching program for executives who want to strategize about online leadership, so you can sign up now for more in-depth discussion, but here are several pointers for connecting with your team when you can’t be there in person. Given that I recently heard of a survey that showed that 70 % of your employees will either refuse to return to work or be reluctant to return to work before there’s a vaccine, some form of virtual leadership will be around for the next year at least.
1. You Need to Amp Up Your Emotional Game. Basically all the virtual forms of communication lessen the emotions that come through to the receiving end. So, to show that you care about the people on the call, you need to make your emotions clear and stronger than usual. If you’re a good poker player, and used to keeping your emotions to yourself, it’s past due time to learn to share. This is true even on Zoom calls, for a host of technical…
