Building more inclusive remote teams with a Manual of Me.

As companies embrace remote and hybrid work environments, managers are finding it increasingly difficult to build strong team relationships solely through virtual communication.

Non-verbal cues get lost over video calls. Watercooler chats disappear. With less daily face-to-face interaction, it’s easy for teammates to feel disconnected from each other.

This is where a Manual of Me can help. A Manual of Me is a living document - created by each team member, which shares details about how they like to work and communicate.

It can act as an onboarding tool to help new hires get to know teammates better, but it also serves as an ongoing reference that reminds team members of each person’s unique needs and preferences.

For managers invested in building inclusive teams, a Manual of Me can surface key similarities and differences between employees that may otherwise go unnoticed in a remote setting.

By proactively learning about the variable needs of their direct reports, managers can adapt their own style to lead in a more personalised way.

By creating the time and space for your team to create their own Manual of Me, you can surface some key insights such as:

• Working style - Does the individual prefer tightly scheduled days or more flexibility? Do they like frequent check-ins or autonomy? Understanding these differences allows managers to tailor their approach or spot any potential conflicts.
• Communication preferences - Does the individual prefer short Slack messages or long-form email? Video calls or phone calls? Knowing this helps team members communicate in the way that feels most comfortable to each person, and surfaces any differences across the team which can be discussed as a group.
• Work motivations - What gives each individual a sense of meaning and purpose in their role? Connecting work to motivations increases engagement, satisfaction and retention.
• Workplace accommodations - Are there any needs or other accommodations that allow the individual to do their best work? Asking everyone to answer this helps make for a more inclusive environment, rather than singling out the one person with additional needs.

While a Manual of Me is useful for getting to know any new colleague, it becomes even more valuable when managing a diverse team.

With greater diversity comes greater variability in how employees want to be managed and communicated with.

Taking the time to understand these differences through the process of creating a Manual of Me demonstrates a commitment to inclusion from team leaders. It might not give all the answers in how to manage a more diverse team - but it starts the dialogue.

When creating a Manual of Me with your team, leaders should remember:

• Support your conversations. Use the Manual of Me a starting point for ongoing two-way conversation with employees, not a replacement!
• Share your own Manual of Me. Being open builds trust and shows that this is a two way open approach, not just an HR form to complete.
• Co-create Manuals with your team. Don’t presuppose what questions people might want to answer. Do it as a group, and design them together.
• Treat it as a living document. Things change over time, create ways to revisit the Manual and reflect upon what is changing.

With intentional effort from managers, diverse teams deliver greater results than one where people are forced to behave in the same way. A Manual of Me serves as a simple but powerful tool to start uncovering and embracing each individiuals’ distinctive needs, preferences and motivations, as well as shared habits and ways of working across the team.

Join the thousands of people who have created their own Manual of Me at www.manualof.me or work with us to explore how you can implement the framework within your organisation.