Leading a remote design team

Leading a remote design team is not that different from leading a design team. Here are some key elements to keep in mind:

- Ask your people how they’re feeling and over-communicate to stay closely connected (e.g. regular check-ins and meetings) ❤️

- Set and communicate clear expectations, goals, and objectives.

- Trust your people; focus on results.

- Listen to team members to spot unmet needs, serve, and support.

- Over-communicate gratitude and praise.

- Be receptive, empathic, and appreciative of different viewpoints.

- Encourage collaboration and co-creation via digital tools (e.g. Miro).

- If designers are distributed in cross-functional teams and lack collaboration with other designers, organize weekly design critiques, and use digital tools to encourage alignment, transparency, and feedback.

- Provide opportunities for training and mentorship

- Get to know team members personally; create fun remote bonding opportunities (e.g. a weekly dinner party via Zoom) 🎉

- Ask for feedback, and make team members feel heard, valued 🗣

P.S.

As a teammate, strive for empathy

Put yourself in your teammates' shoes

Understand their perspective

Understand where they are coming from

― Mario Maruffi, 2019 (Re-published on LinkedIn in 2020)