Confidence fuels effective leadership. In the digital world, leading with confidence ensures that your team stays motivated, engaged, and ready to adapt to whatever challenges and changes arise.
Leading confidently through a screen can be tricky, particularly if you’ve never led a remote team before. Maybe you’ve been recently promoted, so that pesky imposter syndrome is creeping in. You know that you would like to improve your confidence, but you’re stumped when it comes to knowing how.
This blog explores three tips to help you become a better and more confident digital leader in the dynamic landscape of remote and asynchronous work!
Tip 1: Communicate clearly
Workplace communication obviously looks different now than it did pre-pandemic. When leading asynchronous remote teams, it’s particularly beneficial to know how to communicate effectively as this can mean the difference between a unified team, and one that feels disconnected.
There are a few things you can do quickly to improve this, and technology is your friend. You could leverage certain software like Monday.com or Trello to keep track of tasks so that everyone in your team knows their activities for the week. This also provides a place for updates on specific tasks for everyone else to see, no matter what time they’re logging on.
A specific challenge for remote and asynchronous communication is misunderstood expectations. You can curb this by setting guidelines that your team can help create. Having a digital document or updating your Slack preferences with everyone’s preferred working hours and ways of communication means that everyone is, literally, on the same page.
Some people thrive by jumping straight on a video call to chat something through, but for others that thought makes them want to throw their laptop out of the window! Those differences are absolutely okay, but you need to make sure people know about them.
Make sure this documentation includes a solid expected response time. That sense of misalignment and overwhelm often comes from people thinking they need to be online and ready to reply at all hours of the day. So set the record straight: for example, are you expecting your team to reply to Slack messages before the end of the day, or are you giving them 24 hours?
Tip 2: Look inwards, and learn about yourself
Self-awareness plays a vital role in becoming a confident digital leader. Knowing yourself and your unique skills means you can leverage them effectively within your leadership role. When you have clarity about what you bring to the table, you can confidently make decisions, provide guidance, and offer valuable insights to your team.
At a more fundamental human level, a deep level of introspection enables you to embrace your authentic self. Knowing your values, beliefs, and personal leadership style means you’ll be leading from a place of authenticity. In turn, you’ll project confidence because you are true to yourself and your convictions, which can inspire trust and respect from your team members.
Research has shown that remote and hybrid teams can suffer from burnout and stress more so than in-person teams. Having self-awareness enhances your ability to manage this stress more effectively. Knowing your triggers, reactions, and stress management techniques equips you with the tools to navigate difficult situations. You can then lead confidently even in high-pressure situations, inspiring your team to remain calm and focused.
Tip 3: Upskill and network
Self-reflection naturally pinpoints areas for growth as well as areas of strength. It’s important to note that as a leader, you do not need to have all the answers, but understanding your weaknesses or areas where you lack expertise helps you make informed decisions and seek support when necessary.
Upskilling comes in many different forms. You could, for example, work to build up a network of other digital leaders, internally or externally. These connections can serve as a support system where you can seek advice, discuss challenges, and get guidance from leaders who have faced similar situations.
Having professional peers is uniquely beneficial for your confidence. Discussing ideas and receiving positive feedback can boost your confidence, and networking with successful leaders can inspire you to set higher goals, push your boundaries, and strive for continuous improvement.
Another more obvious form of upskilling is attending conferences, training sessions, and eLearning courses. Along with keeping up to date with technological advancements in your sector, it’s just as important to work on your ‘real’ human skills that are so crucial to good leadership.
Become a confident digital leader with our free two-day course…
Luckily for you, our Confident Digital Leadership course combines all these points in a two-day training programme taught by award-winning coaches. We help you look inwards at yourself, understand your strengths and communication style and how you can improve. The sessions are in-person in Manchester, where you’ll be learning alongside a small group of other local digital leaders. If this all sounds good, it’s about to get even better – this course is free of charge.
Check it out and apply today to become a truly confident digital leader and guide your teams to success and satisfaction at work. Get in touch with any questions you have around the programme, and we hope to see you in July!
