A comprehensive guide to essential terms for remote team managers, HR professionals, and facilitators working with distributed teams.
A colleague who helps ensure follow-through on commitments and goals in remote work settings where direct supervision is limited. This partnership inv...
Work approach that prioritizes asynchronous communication and collaboration, allowing team members to contribute when most productive rather than requ...
Communication that doesn't require immediate response, such as emails, recorded videos, shared documents, or voice messages. Essential for teams acros...
Exhaustion from maintaining a professional online persona during virtual interactions, distinct from but related to camera fatigue. This phenomenon oc...
The feeling of being accepted, valued, and included as part of the team. More challenging to cultivate in remote environments but essential for team c...
Smaller virtual meeting spaces within video conferencing platforms where teams can split into focused groups. Crucial tool for interactive virtual tea...
Pairing team members for mutual support, especially useful for onboarding new remote employees or fostering cross-team connections. A structured buddy...
Physical and emotional exhaustion from prolonged workplace stress, particularly common in remote work due to isolation, blurred boundaries, and always...
Mental exhaustion from excessive video calls, also known as "Zoom fatigue." Key consideration when planning virtual engagement activities and meeting ...
Regular structured conversations about team members' well-being, workload, and needs. Essential for maintaining connection in remote teams where infor...
When too many collaboration tools create confusion and reduce productivity. Common challenge in remote teams using multiple platforms for communicatio...
Digital platforms enabling teamwork, file sharing, and project management (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Notion, etc.). Effective collaboration tools...
Team member who actively models and reinforces company values and culture, especially important in remote settings where culture transmission is more ...
Document outlining company values, culture, and behavioral expectations. Critical reference for maintaining shared identity in distributed teams where...
Focused, uninterrupted work time without meetings or messages. Often easier to achieve in remote settings but requires intentional protection through ...
Non-verbal communication cues in digital environments, including response time, emoji use, message tone, and video presence. Understanding digital bod...
Remote worker who travels while working, often changing locations frequently. Presents unique challenges for consistent team participation and relatio...
Healthy relationship with technology and digital tools, including boundaries around screen time and always-on availability. Digital wellness encompass...
Team with members working from different geographical locations, requiring intentional strategies for communication and collaboration. Distributed tea...
How emotions spread through teams, particularly relevant in virtual environments where emotional cues are harder to read. Leaders' emotions have ampli...
Level of enthusiasm and connection employees feel toward their work and company. Requires more intentional cultivation in remote settings through regu...
Providing fair opportunities (equity) versus identical treatment (equality). Important distinction for inclusive remote team practices where team memb...
Process of guiding group activities, discussions, or team building exercises to achieve specific outcomes. Critical skill for remote team leaders mana...
Variable work schedules that accommodate different time zones, personal needs, and peak productivity periods. Flex time policies should define core co...
Anxiety about missing important information or connections, particularly challenging in async-heavy remote environments where not everything happens i...
Awareness and appreciation of cultural differences and time zones within international remote teams. Includes understanding communication styles, holi...
Ensuring all team members understand and work toward shared objectives, particularly important when working independently without constant oversight. ...
Cultural communication styles that affect remote team interactions. High-context relies on implied meaning, non-verbal cues, and shared understanding,...
Exhaustion from managing both in-person and virtual work modes, common in teams with mixed remote/office arrangements. Results from constant adaptatio...
Work model combining remote and in-office time, requiring flexible team building strategies for both settings. Successful hybrid work requires intenti...
Short activity designed to help team members connect and feel comfortable. Essential opening for virtual team building sessions where natural mingling...
Ensuring all team members can participate fully regardless of location, time zone, technology access, or personal circumstances. Remote inclusion requ...
Deliberate, clear communication practices necessary in remote work where casual interactions don't happen naturally. Includes over-communicating conte...
Feelings of loneliness or disconnection common in remote work, requiring proactive team building and connection strategies. Professional isolation dif...
Ensuring all participants can contribute equally in virtual meetings, regardless of their location or technology setup. Includes managing speaking tim...
Short breaks between virtual activities or meetings to prevent fatigue and maintain engagement. Microbreaks help combat the cognitive overload of cons...
Regular assessment of team members' emotional state and well-being, often incorporated into team building activities through simple polls, visual indi...
Process of integrating new employees into team culture and workflows. Requires more structured approach in remote environments where informal learning...
Focus on results and deliverables rather than hours worked or physical presence. Foundation of effective remote team management that emphasizes value ...
Deliberate practice of sharing more information than might seem necessary to compensate for reduced informal communication in remote settings. Include...
Digital signals showing when team members are available, busy, or offline. Important for coordination and respect for boundaries in remote work enviro...
Environment where team members feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, and be vulnerable. Foundation for effective remote collaboration and innovation w...
Brief, regular survey to gauge team sentiment, engagement, and well-being. More frequent than annual reviews and essential for remote team health moni...
Developing trust and connection between team members. Requires more intentional effort and structured opportunities in remote settings where natural r...
Company culture and operational practices designed primarily for distributed work, rather than adapting office-based practices. Remote-first organizat...
Regular team meeting to reflect on successes, challenges, and improvements. Critical for continuous development in remote teams where informal feedbac...
Regular, meaningful team practices that build culture and connection, such as weekly check-ins, virtual coffee breaks, or celebration traditions. Remo...
Challenge of maintaining personal connections as remote teams grow larger, requiring intentional strategies and tools to preserve relationship quality...
Trust, relationships, and goodwill built between team members. Harder to develop remotely but essential for team effectiveness, collaboration, and job...
Real-time communication like video calls, phone calls, or live chat. Important for immediate feedback and relationship building, but should be balance...
Structured activities and practices designed to improve relationships, communication, and collaboration. Requires more intentional planning and execut...
Document outlining team goals, roles, communication preferences, and working agreements. Essential foundation for remote team clarity and accountabili...
Regular patterns of meetings, check-ins, and collaborative work that create predictability and connection for remote teams. Team rhythm includes both ...
Exhaustion from constantly accommodating multiple time zones for meetings and collaboration. Common in global remote teams where no meeting time works...
Developing confidence and reliability among team members. Requires consistent actions and intentional relationship-building in virtual environments wh...
Best practices for virtual meetings: muting when not speaking, ensuring good lighting and audio, using appropriate backgrounds, and being present. Goo...
Online sessions where team members work independently while connected via video, simulating shared office presence and accountability. Virtual coworki...
Skills for leading effective online meetings and activities, including technology management, engagement techniques, and group dynamics. Virtual facil...
Structured online experiences designed to improve team relationships, communication, and collaboration in remote settings. Effective virtual team buil...
Informal digital spaces or scheduled time for casual team conversation, replacing spontaneous office interactions. Virtual watercoolers can include de...
Deepest level of team trust where members feel comfortable showing weakness and asking for help. Requires intentional cultivation in remote environmen...
Clear documentation of processes and procedures essential for remote teams where knowledge transfer doesn't happen through casual observation. Effecti...
Blending professional and personal responsibilities in a sustainable way, often more realistic than strict separation in remote work where home and of...