GC Remote Working/Home/VirtualTeams
Leading a Virtual Team
Leading teams virtually presents new challenges to leaders and managers who must successfully manage people separated by distance, varying working hours and often, time zones. Building a strong team is challenging but even more complex in the case of a virtual team.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to remote work, The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) took the lead through their GCcampus learning platform to help public service managers better manage their teams virtually.
GC managers and leaders can log in to create an account to access the School's online offerings -- from online courses to podcasts to job aids. The School continues to create learning opportunities and tools to support managers during the COVID-19 pandemic so check the Learning catalogue to stay up to date on new products.
Learning Path for Virtual Managers: CSPS has created a special Learning Path for managers leading teams virtually which includes two courses and a webcast focused on best practices in remote management and how to build and work with effective teams.
- Establishing Effective Virtual Teams (X175)
- Building and Leading Successful Teams (X167)
- Best Practices for Virtual Teams (webcast)
Podcasts The School also has two podcasts focused on virtual leadership. Innovate on Demand: Virtual Leadership is a podcast featuring Simon Gascon, Director of IT Research at Employment and Social Development Canada, on his experience as a virtual leader. The podcast is just under an hour. How to Survive as an Executive: Leading Remotely in a Crisis discusses how the Government of Canada pivoted quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From coast to coast to coast, executives led their teams in transitioning to home offices while continuing to serve Canadians and adapt to the national lockdown. This conversation addresses:
- the phases that executives and their teams may experience
- coping strategies
- the importance of communication and staying connected
Check here for more information.
The GCFlex group shared a “Leading Remote Teams: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis” webinar packed with excellent resources for managers. You can watch it on the Cornell ILR Executive Education website
Cornell faculty provided strategies to help leaders “rise to the challenge of leading remote teams, and keeping them engaged and productive in these uncertain times.” One of the GCflex group’s members also wrote an article with 5 key takeaways and specific tooling and resource suggestions which is available in both official languages.
Job Aides
CSPC wrote a series of job aids -- tools to help you carry out your everyday responsibilities – related to virtual team management. They include quick reference tools, checklists, decision trees and worksheets. The series related to virtual teams includes topics like:
- Helping People Through Transition,
- a Virtual Team Tool kit,
- Civility and Respect at Work,
- Do’s and Don’ts in Remote Work, and
- Finding Opportunities in Challenging Times.
To access these job aids , you will be prompted to log in to your GCcampus account. Find the whole series here:
Busrides Busrides is new page built in collaboration with public servants interested in sharing resources to help navigate remote work. Busrides offers short segments on digital topics and modern government that appeal to multiple learning styles. For now, Busrides is just getting started, but additional resources will be added.
Coming Up … The CSPS is presenting “EXecuTALK: Beyond 2020 – Leading Through the Unknown” a webcast aimed at Executives who want to experience a conversation about how leaders prepare for the future in a time of uncertainty on September 28, from 1:30 – 2 pm ET. Join Kristel Van der Elst, Director General of Policy Horizons Canada, who is leading a conversation about the changes spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, how those changes may affect the work of Canada's public service leadership, and how to prepare for the future. You must register before 10 am on the day of the webcast. Link here.
Virtual Teams Tips and Guidelines
More information coming soon! In the meantime, check out the links below.
General Guidelines and Tips for Working Remotely
