Staff Management

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Help!

Staff Management

How do I develop a sense of teamwork among my staff when we're almost never in the same room, or booth, together?

Oftentimes, absentee exhibit managers, i.e., those forced to run their exhibit programs from their cubicles instead of from the show floor, must manage teams they rarely see face to face. Here, then, are four quick tips to help you lead your real team in a virtual world.

Invest in relationships. Long-distance relationships are tough, but solid relationships are key to a strong and effective team. So make the time to build and foster relationships, and encourage team members to continue these relationship-building activities.

Manage meetings. Unorganized meetings with no clear directives suck the life out of participants. Schedule short meetings with clear agendas, push side discussion off line, and keep everyone engaged by including them in the conversation.

Get personal. Electronic communication seems to breed misconceptions and negative assumptions. So schedule regular phone or Skype meetings to ensure you and your team are on the same page. Trust your team. Most people operate under the assumption that trust is earned. But sometimes, you have to trust your team straight out of the gate or you risk micromanaging it into a state of ineffectiveness. State expectations clearly, communicate frequently, and then trust your team to carry out your strategy.

— Kevin Eikenberry, chief potential officer, The Kevin Eikenberry Group, Indianapolis

Help Wanted
Send your tough questions about exhibiting to Linda Armstrong, [email protected].