If you manage employees remotely, you know it’s a game a trust.
Does this sound familiar?
You are working diligently on an important task, you email your team member a simple question, they reply quickly and you keep on going. They were at the right place at the right time. You think, awesome, rock star team member!
But, now you’re on the next task. You email a different team member a question and then you wait.
No reply...
….
Still no reply...
What’s your impression of that team member?
Before you assume the worst, ask yourself if you or the team have clear rules of engagement.
Here are some examples:
- If you will be away from your email, text, office, etc. for more than X amount of time, you’ll IM before you head out and state when you’ll be available again.
- If I don’t get a response from you via IM within X amount of time, we will pick up the phone.
- If there are critical projects or timelines, you will notify the members impacted that morning and request they keep themselves available.
What rules of engagement have you created with your team?