Safety

Identify the sources of conflict

Conflict in remote teams can arise from various sources. Recognising these sources is the first step towards addressing and resolving them effectively.

• Communication breakdowns: misunderstandings often occur due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Text-based communication can lead to misinterpretations.
• Cultural differences: diverse teams bring different cultural perspectives, which can sometimes clash if not managed properly.
  
• Unequal workload distribu…

Managing a remote team can make it hard to know how people are feeling. Don’t leave it up to chance, pay attention to changes and keep lines of communication open.  

One of the primary concerns for managers of remote teams is recognising signs of stress in their employees. Unlike traditional office settings where face-to-face interactions can provide visual cues, remote work requires more nuanced approaches. It’s important to pay attention and address issues early.

Have you noticed?

• Changes…

Teams need to collaborate and compromise on remote work arrangements to come up with a plan that works for everyone.

Why it matters

Remote work is no longer a temporary solution. Without a thoughtful operations plan, distributed teams can quickly become disjointed, leading to miscommunication, unmet deadlines, and ultimately, dissatisfied employees. Effective remote work planning isn't just a logistical necessity; it's a strategic imperative that ensures the work gets done and people remain ha…

Not all remote teams work from a desk. Remote area firefighting teams work in a dynamically changing environment in wilderness environments. They don’t leave things to chance. They are intentional about how they communicate, collaborate and respond to changing circumstances.

Why it matters

The outer extremes of remote working can offer useful insights for achieving high performance in any remote team.

Take action

• Provide training to increase remote worker and leader capability.
• Have a pla…