As a military spouse, working on a remote team is in many ways a dream job. It’s portable and flexible, and it’s a great way to build a tribe that stays with you regardless of the number of times you PCS.
As you’re growing your team or looking to join one, what qualities should you look for in a remote teammate to make sure that your dream job doesn’t turn into a horror show?
As one of the leaders of a non-profit organization with team members in multiple time zones, I have four qualities that I especially appreciate in my teammates:
RESPONSIVENESS
We’re an organization that champions military spouse wellness, so I want my team to set healthy work boundaries. I don’t expect people to get back to me immediately unless we’re working on a deadline. But, repeatedly following up with people is an energy drain. I appreciate it when we can get into a groove of communication so that I know when I can expect to hear back.
DEPENDABILITY
Dependability is a tricky thing for military spouses. Sometimes stuff comes up without warning. However, the lack of it on a day-to-day basis is a deal-breaker. As a student, even at the MBA level, I loathed team projects because people did not dependably complete or turn in quality work, and I was frequently left scrambling to pull everything together myself at the last minute. As a more mature business leader, I’ve learned that some people work well independently, some need more touchpoints, and some work best collaboratively. Teammates who turn in timely, quality work are such a gift to a team. I also appreciate it when people communicate when they’re overwhelmed or burnt out well before a deadline so the team can come together to support without having to pick up a dropped ball at the last minute.
AVAILABILITY
Military spouses are generous with their time, often juggling quite a few things in service to their families, communities, and country. How many things are too many? I appreciate it when teammates are readily available to work on projects or get on a call.
THICK SKINNED
Remote teams do a lot of written communication, much of it amounting to the equivalent of a quick text. We have an assume-the-best mentality on our team because sometimes things come across as harsh without the tone of voice or body language to aid in the communication. I appreciate working with thick-skinned teammates, so I don’t have to agonize over possible nuances of every message I send to make sure it’s not going to hurt somebody’s feelings. Some people just do better with face-to-face interaction.
There’s a certain amount of grace that goes into working well together as a remote team. Still, if the people on your team are responsive, dependable, available, and thick-skinned, you have an amazing foundation to build upon to meet team goals and establish wonderful relationships.
What qualities would you add to this list?
ABOUT KIMBERLY
Kimberly Bacso is an MBA who exchanged an office with a view for a life of adventure when she became a military spouse in 2001. She is the co-founder and operations director of InDependent, a non-profit on a mission to make wellness accessible to all military spouses. She is the managing editor of Legacy Magazine, a print publication celebrating service member families and the communities that support them. Kimberly is an experienced registered yoga teacher and a lifelong vegetarian who can often be found traveling off the beaten path with her husband and teenage daughter.
