Global teams have the potential to help organizations reach new markets and provide a seamless brand experience for customers across the world. But for global teams to work, team leaders need to make sure all members feel connected and engaged, regardless of their location or culture. From what I’ve seen when advising global teams, the psychological and emotional reaction people experience when participating on these teams can sink its effectiveness.
How to Keep a Global Team Engaged
Employees who live far away face many disadvantages.
May 14, 2018
Catherine MacBride/Getty Images
Summary.
Life on a global team isn’t necessarily equitable across regions of the world. Employees far away from headquarters often have less easy and immediate access to the team leader, and as a result, have a harder time having their concerns noticed. They are also often forced to speak in a different language and communicate according to a style that’s not second nature. And logistically, they typically have to deal with regular inconveniences, like late-night or early-morning calls, simply because they’re in a different time zone.
When distant team members face these challenges, they can feel underutilized, out of the loop, disengaged, and lonely. But you can take steps to put these isolated members of your team at the forefront by making sure inconveniences are spread out across the team, making your virtual communication count, visiting these team members, and assessing your own cultural biases that may be leaving these individuals at a disadvantage.