Only a couple of years ago, it seems remote business workers were rare and leaders could mentor their employees the good old-fashioned way—in person.

Since the pandemic, though, they’ve had to adjust to mentoring their team members remotely. Many have done well, and others have struggled.

With indicators pointing to a more permanent remote workforce for many organizations, leaders who have not developed the mentoring skills necessary for remote workers now realize they must. And those who have excelled can strive for improving their skills.

Leadership Tip

Continue to develop and refine your mentoring skills, adjusting them for those who work remotely.

It’s easy to give up on mentoring because of beliefs that virtual is not as effective as in person. But don’t give up. Virtual mentoring may be awkward at first, but if you are willing to make the effort, you can enjoy the success and satisfaction of mentoring.

In reality, the requirements to mentor someone virtually is not much different than in person. You must establish boundaries and trust, communicate frequently, give honest feedback, and be fully transparent. You smile, you listen, you care, you share, you encourage, you support.

Successful mentoring depends on your willingness to help others develop in their careers, so invest time in sharing your knowledge and experiences as required. Always be there for your mentees.

To truly help your remote workers develop, don’t let any virtual barriers get in the way of your success—or theirs.