Techniques for Building a Supportive Team Network

The Empathy Edge: 8 Ways to Maintain Emotional Connection in a Remote World In a digital age where screens replace face-to-face interactions, empathy is the bridge that keeps teams human. Here are eight strategies to nurture emotional intelligence and foster trust, even through a monitor: 1. Send “How can I support you?” instead of “What’s the status?” ↳ Reframing demands as offers shifts the dynamic from surveillance to collaboration, reducing defensiveness and building trust. 2. Start every meeting with: “How are you really doing?” ↳ A simple check-in sets a tone of care and reminds everyone that people come before tasks. 3. Celebrate the “invisible” work publicly ↳ Highlighting silent efforts boosts morale and reinforces the value of each team member’s contribution. 4. Turn cameras ON during conflict ↳ Body language builds empathy faster than words alone, helping to de-escalate tension and foster understanding. 5. Create a “No Judgment” virtual zone ↳ A safe space for sharing struggles encourages vulnerability, strengthens bonds, and sparks innovative solutions. 6. Replace emails with “human” video chats ↳ Cameras humanize interactions, turning pixels into people and creating moments of genuine connection. 7. End every call with clarity + gratitude ↳ Closing with “Thank you for your time. Here’s our next-step plan.” combines appreciation with structure, leaving everyone feeling valued and aligned. 8. Send one unsent message this week ↳ A simple note of recognition—like “I noticed how you [specific action]. Thank you.”—can have an outsized impact on morale and engagement. Remote work doesn’t have to mean robotic work. By intentionally weaving empathy into digital habits, you build teams that feel seen, heard, and valued—no office required. 📌 Which of these strategies will you try first? Share below! ♻️ Repost to lead the empathy revolution in remote work! Follow Natan Mohart for more science-backed soft skills.

Trust is built through actions, not words! Trust is at the heart of any effective leadership style. I’ve found that it can make or break a team's performance, morale and overall success. Today, I want to share some insights on building and maintaining trust within your team, based on my 20+ years of experience in leadership roles. Transparency is Key: Share important updates, both good and bad. If something isn't going well, it’s better to let your team know rather than keeping them in the dark. People appreciate honesty. Open-Door Policy: Make sure you're approachable. If team members feel they can come to you with any problems or suggestions, you’re on the right track. Be Consistent: Try to treat everyone fairly and keep your promises. If people know what to expect from you, they're more likely to trust you. Acknowledge Mistakes: We're all human... we all make mistakes. Owning up to them shows maturity and reliability, two qualities that help build trust. Provide Feedback: Positive or constructive, feedback helps team members know where they stand and how they can improve. It's a two-way street... encourage them to provide you with feedback too. Tip: Always use Positive Reinforcement when giving feedback... don't make it all about the individuals shortcomings. Empower Your Team: Delegating tasks or responsibilities not only shows you trust your team's skills but also encourages their own development. The sense of ownership they get from it often leads to better results. Show Appreciation: Recognize and reward good work. Simple acts of appreciation can go a long way in building a positive and trusting work environment. Stick to Your Values: Integrity is crucial. If your actions reflect your words, people are more likely to trust you. Active Listening: Take the time to listen to your team's concerns and ideas. This not only fosters trust but can also provide you with valuable insights. Follow Through: If you commit to something, do everything in your power to make it happen. This confirms that you're reliable, further building trust. Leadership isn't about pretending to have all the answers. Simon Sinek - "In leadership, the quickest way to lose trust is to pretend you have all the answers. The best way to build it is to prove you don't." #LeadershipTrust #BuildingTeams #TransparencyInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EffectiveLeadership

How I create a sense of teamwork... Success is a collective effort, not the result of one individual. Here are tips for supportive teams! 🚀 Create a shared vision and goals • What is the team working towards? • What is the motivation to put in 100%? When each person understands how critical their actions and ideas are, they become much more engaged and eager to work towards a shared objective. But don't assume that the team recognizes how critical a role they play. Communicate repeatedly how they contribute, the benefits of their contribution, and the end results. 🚀 Foster a culture of communication • Does the team ask each other questions? • How often does the team seek input? For teams to work together, they need to communicate often and with clarity. Feedback, questions, and advice needs to flow up, down, and around the team hierarchy. Employ tools for communication and promote transparency. For example, meetings and processes exist in a shared wiki. Slack provides asynchronous communication. Standups, team meetings, and opportunities to brainstorm together are a regular part of daily, weekly, and monthly schedules. 🚀 Provide the chance for collaboration • Who owns tasks or projects? • Are resources shared? Siloed information can exist within a team. For example, person A has created spreadsheets that would benefit everyone, but they aren't shared. Or person B is pulling out their hair with new and unfamiliar software, even though person C is an expert. Create opportunities for each person to share resources, assistance, and ideas. 🚀 Address bullying, microaggressions, and conflict • Who never volunteers ideas in meetings? Why? • Does the atmosphere ever shift for the worse? Let's hope that a person misspeaks rather than intentionally belittles a team member. "You didn't know that?!" is a favorite example of an unintentional putdown. It signals that everyone else knows the information, just not the person. In short, it means: "Are you stupid?!" Address any problems as soon as possible, if not immediately. When people don't feel safe volunteering ideas, they will not readily work as a team. PS. What do you do to foster teamwork? 🔔 Follow Chris Cotter for more on #leadership.