Remote Work

We are holistic beings, and there are many different influencers on our energetic presentation. These factors fall into six different areas: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, social, and environmental. Factors within these six different areas of influence affect energy, stress, and engagement associated with any given task, activity, or situation. They can enhance our energy, work for us, and move us toward success OR detract from our energy and keep us from our success. Optimization of the influences can enhance energetic presentation and increase potential (by increasing engagement and decreasing stress). Conversely, factors within these six areas can decrease potential because they cause stress and reduce engagement.

Leading with gratitude on remote teams helps team members to think of each other more, and thus remember to inform others of things they might otherwise forget. It helps team members feel appreciated, and this more inclined to collaborate. It helps employees feel less controlled by their bosses and more appreciated instead. It becomes the foundation of a culture of thanksgiving. Further, gratitude also provides many other personal and social benefits—the research on gratitude and its benefits is now quite extensive.

The Online Team and Community Index is a self-report instrument designed to assess the cohesion and
effectiveness of remote teams via five dimensions: Purpose, Trust, Communication, Collaboration, and
Convenience. The OTCI includes an Action Item Checklist designed to provide users with tangible ways to
improve performance in the five dimensions. The OTCI was informed by years of team dynamics
research and best practices of successful remote work teams.

What does integrity have to do with leading remote work? The two ideas may seem unrelated at first. However, as you consider the scenarios included in this tool, the connections become clear, we see how deep these connections are, and we see how leading with integrity can transform the experience of people who work remotely.