10 Behaviours to build trust in your virtual team

Building trust in your virtual team can be challenging. Virtual team members don’t have the opportunity to meet in person, and so are forced to work together virtually—in other words, over email and Skype. Trust building requires that you share personal and sensitive information with each other, which can feel risky when you don’t know who you’re sharing that information with. 

Here are 10 behaviors that will help build trust in your virtual team

Make sure you meet your deadlines

Always make sure you meet your deadlines. If you are late, it means you are not a team player and don't care about the project as much as everyone else. Make a list of what needs to be done for the project so you can stay on top of everything. If you need help with something, ask for it. That way, your teammates will know that they can count on you if they need anything from you.

Keep your commitments

Keep your commitments. If you commit to a deadline, meet it. If you commit to the process, follow it. When you are the leader, be sure that everyone knows what the deadlines and process are so that they can make informed decisions about how much time they will need and where they can get help if needed. In this way, we can all focus on what we do best and have more trust that others will take care of their commitments as well.

Don’t be critical if you don’t have something constructive to say

If you don't have anything constructive to say, then it's best not to say anything at all. Be mindful of your tone and your words. Criticism is a difficult thing to take, especially when it's coming from someone that is supposed to be a colleague or friend. Keep it constructive and keep the details confidential if you can. Constructive criticism will help others learn and grow in their skills, while destructive criticism will only hinder them. Remember that the goal is to make others feel better about themselves by giving them feedback on what they are doing well.

Have a positive attitude

Ensure to have a positive attitude about the team and tasks. Displaying frustration or anger will lead the team down a negative path, which is the opposite of what you want to do. Show your appreciation for their hard work and show them that you are there for them. 

Be accessible at all times (even if they are outside work hours)

When working virtually, it is important that team members are accessible at all times. Make sure you have a designated time of day when they can check their emails and phone messages without feeling like they are being bothered. It is also important that you are available outside of work hours as well. If there is an emergency, it will be difficult for them to take care of it without your input. A good rule of thumb is to make yourself available for at least three hours each day outside work hours and one hour during work hours if your team member has trouble getting back to sleep after answering emails or phone calls before bedtime.

Communicate effectively with technology and people

When working in a virtual team, you can’t just rely on your voice or body language. Listen actively and show empathy by asking questions and making comments that reflect understanding. Communicate clearly with timely feedback on tasks, expectations, etc.

Be open about thoughts and feelings; offer an opportunity for others to do the same. Understand others’ perspectives by listening attentively and checking your understanding of their ideas. Show appreciation by thanking people for their contributions. Praise them when they are doing well. Be honest with feedback if they are not meeting expectations or standards. Have realistic expectations of yourself and others while being optimistic about what can be accomplished together.

Talk constructively about what didn’t go well instead of complaining

Talk constructively about what didn’t go well instead of complaining. Ask for help if you need it. Share what you learned and how you plan to do better next time. Encourage everyone on the team to do this too!

It builds trust, honesty, and transparency, and provides a learning opportunity for all. When we only complain about something that went wrong, it leaves the other person feeling like they can't get anything right or be successful at their job.

Appreciate their efforts and accomplishments, even when it is not part of your job duties.

Always appreciate the efforts and accomplishments of your virtual team, even when it is not part of your job duties. Send a thank you email or a kind gesture that shows that you are grateful for the work they do on behalf of your company.

Don't forget to offer encouragement and praise them for their work. Allowing employees to know that their contributions are appreciated can go a long way in building trust within the team.

Support their ideas even if you don’t agree with them

Support their ideas even if you don’t agree with them.  If your team members know that they can share an idea and get a response from you, they will be more willing to bring up new ideas and contribute meaningfully to the team.

If your team members know that they can share an idea and get a response from you, they will be more willing to bring up new ideas and contribute meaningfully to the team.

Show gratitude for their efforts, advice, and help

Show gratitude for their efforts, advice, and help.  Send thank you cards or small gifts if you don't have time to meet face-to-face. Follow up with them after meetings or other interactions so they know that you care about them and appreciate their input. If something goes wrong, take responsibility and apologize for the inconvenience caused. Apologize if there is a misunderstanding or miscommunication; don't defend yourself when it's not your fault!

Conclusion

In conclusion, virtual teams are a great tool for many businesses. With the right technology and good management practices, they can be highly effective. The key is to find ways to build trust between team members so that they can work together efficiently and effectively. Try using some of these behaviors and see how your virtual team performs!