Five years ago, the idea of running a 100% virtual company felt unimaginable to me. Fast forward to today, we now have team members spanning three continents, five countries, and six time zones. Many of our team members lead a digital nomadic lifestyle, moving every few months as part of their routine. This dynamic environment requires a unique approach to virtual leadership. We have to think outside the box to build a strong company culture, communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and monitor productivity and deliverables efficiently.
Here are some strategies to tackle these challenges:
Creating a cohesive company culture
Establishing a cohesive company culture with team members scattered around the world demands intentional effort. At SUCCESS Enterprises, we have dedicated days to collaborative workshops to define our company’s mission, vision, values, and align our customer avatars and value delivery systems accordingly.
In addition, we organize virtual company gatherings, host regular “watercooler” discussions, and hold four quarterly business meetings per year, with two being physical events. We make it a priority to acknowledge achievements, anniversaries, and special events to foster a sense of community and gratitude among our team members.
Effective communication and collaboration
While tools like Slack are indispensable for daily interactions, we emphasize face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication through platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and WhatsApp. Seeing and hearing each other aids in preventing misunderstandings and ensuring clarity.
Culturally, we promote trust-building and transparency through open and vulnerable conversations. We encourage immediate feedback to address communication issues promptly and prevent them from escalating.
Managing work hours
Coordinating work hours across different time zones is undeniably challenging. Leading a virtual team of digital nomads necessitates flexibility and adaptability from everyone. While we operate primarily on U.S. Central Time, we empower digital nomads to work flexibly while meeting project deadlines and event schedules.
Monitoring productivity, priorities, and deliverables
While we utilize tools like Monday for project management, virtual leadership also involves company-wide collaboration sessions to prioritize projects, assign project leads, and establish accountability measures. We have recently seen success in appointing a project manager to oversee progress in all initiatives and campaigns weekly, ensuring alignment and efficiency across the organization.
Leading a virtual company presents its own set of obstacles, but embracing flexibility, transparency, and communication is crucial. These values have enabled us to navigate remote work complexities successfully and leverage the opportunities it offers for innovation and growth.
