What do you do if you're a remote worker trying to establish trust and rapport in virtual teams?

Presence is the only answer, otherwise - Out of Sight and Out of mind would be the outcome. While the leaders would not do this consciously, but lower presence and facetime can be impacting. Being in touch regularly on calls, emails helps. At the same time proactive reporting helps - beware of spamming though Also weekly connect would be very helpful and quarterly travel.

Every person has a different language. Learning their language is essential if you want to work with others. This way, you can respect, validate, and work with them. This way, you will show you care about them and you are serious in making progress.

Connecting with colleagues feels almost effortless in a physical office. But in the virtual world? I've learned that creating those connection moments virtually requires a proactive approach. By consistently reaching out, checking in, and fostering those moments of connection, I've noticed a shift. Trust grows, relationships deepen, and collaboration becomes second nature. But here's the kicker: it's not just about me. It's about setting an example. By consistently and intentionally showing up in the virtual space, I am also illuminating a clear path for others to follow. So, be the spark that ignites meaningful connections in your virtual team. Together, we can turn these virtual spaces into vibrant hubs of collaboration.

Empathy is the key to all deep and trusted relationships and yet we so often overlook this. I get asked whether we can create and maintain empathy remotely and virtually - the answer is a resounding yes but it takes intention and consistency to do so.

Start internal team calls off with "check ins"— ask everyone to share beyond the subject at hand. Each person can take 30 seconds to answer questions such as: What made you smile today, what are you grateful for today, what surprised you today, etc. If it's a large call on video, ask participants to enter their answer in chat and call out a few to read back to the group and include your answer as well. Creating more human connection beyond technology is vital in nurturing authentic connections for teams and cross-functionally.

If you don't have a connection, make one. Here on LinkedIn, you may have various types of connections. Study your gaps to see what you need to improve on. Seek the right people and ask them your questions; make sure Google doesn't have a valid answer before asking your questions. Ask wisely.

In asking for feedback, make sure the person giving you feedback is talking about the part of the project, not pointing at you.