Remote Leadership: Digitalization the right way!

Digitalization and New Work make it possible: remote work. Studies show that location-independent work makes people happier, more productive, and healthier. Especially since the beginning of the pandemic, the rhythm of our cooperation and coexistence has changed. Companies and leaders who want to be successful in this dynamic time and beyond must deal with issues such as remote leadership, New Work, and digitalization as a result of the pandemic. Based on these questions, Prof. Dr. Kathrin Köster from Köster + Partner explained in our online event “Remote Leadership - Purpose is key” in December 2020 how organizations need to rethink and live leadership.

Get digitalization right!

Companies face major challenges globally. Especially in the wake of the pandemic, the dynamics in which our environment changes have accelerated. The whole year of 2020, with its unexpected turns, pushed us to look at things again and ask: What do we need in companies and what do we not? How do things work best? Good communication, motivation, and balance between private and professional life are among the key elements of teamwork, especially now when that balance is shifting.

”Remote Leadership” and “New Work”

The world of work has been undergoing a fundamental structural change for years, a global transformation. New Work is the term used for this transformation. By replacing the old world of work and starting over in an open, modern, and digitized world, companies can benefit enormously. New Work is defined as a collective term for forward-looking, meaningful work, often in combination with remote leadership. Digitalization makes this kind of work possible. The team does not need to be on site; it can connect from anywhere in the world. That is precisely why this new form of leadership is essential, so digital collaboration and goal achievement remain possible during the pandemic and beyond.

”For the motivation and satisfaction with my work, I am primarily responsible!”

The mistaken belief that only leaders need to motivate has been history since the beginning of the pandemic and the associated changes in the work environment. Of course, leaders need to motivate, but that also applies to the entire team. If there is no self-motivation, you cannot motivate others either. Prof. Dr. Kathrin Köster herself calls that “Mission Impossible.” What is needed, especially for remote leadership? Remote cannot be controlled, because control has never worked anyway. In our online event, Prof. Köster highlighted three areas in which the person who leads themselves and others must be active: UNITE, INVOLVE and CARE.

”If we did not exist as a team, then…”

UNITE - The core of a team is the goal that unites everyone. It matters what the team does particularly well, what it is passionate about, and finally what it is paid for. These three questions are the core and the glue that holds the team together. Employees should be able to identify with the mission of a company and live it.

INVOLVE - Bringing people together sounds complex, but it does not have to be. In practice, it comes down to everyday things such as clearly defined availability in home office, direct one-to-one communication, saying thank you, and showing appreciation. These rules apply at all times, especially in home office. The key is not only to understand this behavior in theory, but also to apply it in practice.

CARE - Take care of yourself and others. First and foremost, you need to take care of yourself; only then can you lead other people and care for them as well. It is simply not possible to motivate and unite the team if you do not show that behavior yourself. Especially today it is important to show compassion, because we are all in the same boat globally, and although things may be going well for us, someone else’s world may be falling apart. It is therefore essential that the whole team is there for one another.

Central areas are UNITE, INVOLVE and CARE

Everyone pulls in the same direction!

Our team at ElevateX lives these principles. Our credo: “When, how and where someone works does not matter, as long as the focus, motivation, and therefore the result are right.” We and our partners agree: expertise matters, but motivation matters even more. Self-organized and proactive work, as well as a focus on quality, are key elements of our work philosophy. This means leaders do not need to control whether employees have completed all tasks, because everyone is in the same boat and has the same goal. More about us as challengers, partners and thought leaders can be found here. We also recommend this blog article on “New Work” - it covers the topic from scratch.

As a professor, author, entrepreneur and coach, Prof. Dr. Kathrin Köster is a true all-round talent - Kathrin, thank you very much for the online event and the insights we gained from it! Would you like to learn more about our approach to remote leadership? Feel free to contact us without obligation via the contact form!