Inclusion and Transparency with Remote Teams: Why It's So Important

As a leader working with remote teams, I've come to realize that building a culture of inclusion and transparency is essential to keeping everyone connected, engaged, and motivated. Being remote can often lead to feelings of isolation or disconnection, but fostering an environment where team members feel included in decisions can bridge that gap and strengthen the team.

Inclusion isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a foundation of creating a trusting, effective team. Including your team in decision-making helps them feel valued and heard, which in turn nurtures a sense of ownership over their work. When they know their opinions matter and can directly impact the direction of a project or the future of the team, it builds trust and accountability.

Transparency is key. When remote teams can see how decisions are made and know what’s driving those decisions, it removes any uncertainty and misunderstandings. Without this transparency, it’s easy for team members to feel like they’re working in the dark, unsure of where they stand or what’s coming next. I am even transparent, to a professional degree, regarding my time out of office. If I have an appointment, I let them know, if I am sick, I explain the situation, if I need a 2 hour break to take my kid to practice, I make sure they are aware of what I am doing and how to best contact me in the event something urgent comes up. They have access to my calendar and to see meeting titles and participants. Through these steps, the team has come to also get to know me as a person and often reaches out to check up on myself or my family.

Another way I’ve found to keep everyone involved is by actively asking for feedback and making it a part of the process. The beauty of technology is that it allows us to gather insights from remote teams quickly and efficiently. Using tools like Microsoft Teams Polls, Zoom Polls, Survey Monkey, or any other feedback platform, we can collect real-time opinions on everything from how to improve team workflows to what kind of company events would be most enjoyed.

These polls not only help us understand the team’s wants and wishes, but they also provide an opportunity to showcase what the majority vote thinks or supports. Giving everyone the chance to voice their thoughts and voting on important matters strengthens the feeling of community and shared purpose. It’s no longer just about the decisions made by leadership; it’s about the collective vision of the team.

It’s also a great way to show that leadership is committed to listening. When team members know they are being heard and that their feedback is taken seriously, it creates a positive cycle of trust and engagement. And when a team is more engaged, the results follow – higher productivity, improved collaboration, and a happier work environment.

But it’s not just about gathering feedback – it’s also about acting on it. There’s nothing more frustrating than taking time to provide input only to see it ignored. Transparency isn’t just about sharing decisions, but also about showing how feedback is incorporated. When we follow through on suggestions or explain why certain ideas might not be feasible, it reinforces the idea that every voice truly matters.

So, if you’re managing a remote team, I encourage you to make inclusion and transparency a part of your daily practice. Make decisions together, be open about the ‘why’ behind those decisions, and use technology to gather and share feedback. It’s a powerful way to build a team that feels connected, empowered, and committed to success.

At the end of the day, when your team feels like they belong and are part of the bigger picture, they’re more likely to invest in the work, the team, and the vision.