Once upon a time, I was a digital marketing executive working remotely. One day, I was on a conference call with my team, discussing our latest campaign. I had just taken my dog for a walk, and I was feeling pretty good. I was also feeling a little too good.
As the call went on, I started to let out some pretty loud fart noises. At first, I tried to play it off like it was just my chair or something, but it quickly became obvious that it was me. My team was trying to stifle their laughter, but I could hear them snickering.
I was mortified, and I apologized profusely. But then, one of my team members said, “Hey, at least we know you’re comfortable working from home!”
The whole team burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. From that day on, I made sure to mute my microphone when I needed to let one rip. And, as a bonus, I always felt more comfortable working from home!
After the incident, I realized that being comfortable with your team is crucial in a remote work environment. It allows you to be more open and honest with each other, and it helps to build trust. When you’re comfortable with your team, you’re able to work more efficiently and effectively.
As a leader, it’s important to foster a comfortable and open environment for your team. This means being approachable and available for questions or concerns. It also means being willing to share your own vulnerabilities and mistakes, just like I did with my team during that conference call.
Being comfortable with your team also means being able to have a sense of humor and not take yourself too seriously. It helps to lighten the mood and keep things relaxed, even when working remotely.
In conclusion, the incident may have been embarrassing at the moment but it taught me the importance of being comfortable with your team, as a top leadership quality. It’s a vital ingredient for building a strong and effective team, especially when working remotely.
Marketing Unplugged 
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