When setting expectations with a virtual team, it's essential to move beyond just defining tasks. Think of it as creating a roadmap that allows people to navigate challenges on their terms. Trust grows when your team knows you’ve equipped them to handle the unexpected, not just the everyday. Give space for flexibility—allow room for them to adjust their approach while keeping the end goal in sight. When team members have both direction and the freedom to adapt, they’re empowered to make decisions, building a stronger sense of trust and ownership.

Setting clear expectations right from the start is non-negotiable if you want to eliminate confusion, establish shared understanding, and foster trust in virtual teams. Strategic leaders must communicate roles, responsibilities, and goals, making sure everyone knows how they fit into the bigger picture. Emotional intelligence is key here—staying attuned to team dynamics and individual needs and creating a space for open feedback and dialogue. When #leaders lean into relational intelligence, they build real connections, promote transparency, and establish the psychological safety the team needs to thrive, regardless of the distance.

Open communication should be a no-brainer, embedded in every organization’s culture. But let’s face it, sometimes it’s not. Leaders must create a space where teams feel truly heard, valued, and safe to speak up. Emotional intelligence is a leader’s superpower—tuning into the emotions at play and addressing them constructively and openly. Use relational intelligence to build genuine connections, not just transactional interactions. Regular check-ins, active listening, and transparency all build trust. When open dialogue becomes the norm, uncertainty fades, collaboration strengthens, and trust flourishes—even in a virtual setting.

Consistency builds trust, period. If your team can count on you (the Leader) to follow through, that reliability becomes the foundation for everything else. In virtual teams, this is even more important. Leaders need to show up, meet deadlines, and be there when your team needs you. A leaders emotional intelligence helps here by being aware of how your actions impact trust. Like sowing seeds over time, you will reap what you plant and nurture. When you're reliable, it sets the tone for the whole team to follow suit. Consistency boosts accountability, strengthens relationships, and signals that no matter the distance, the team can rely on each other.

Trust doesn’t always come from tasks—it comes from relationships. Leaders with strong relational competence can authentically cultivate connections that enhances productivity. In virtual teams, building personal connections is crucial. Take time to get to know your team beyond their to-do lists. Ask about their interests, check in on their well-being, and show you care. Emotional intelligence helps you read between the lines, even through a screen. Relational intelligence? That’s your tool for deepening those connections, making sure people feel valued as more than just workers. Leaders that invest in personal relationships experience trust that grows naturally, and virtual team becomes more cohesive, connected, and committed.

Feedback shouldn’t be a once-a-year event during performance reviews. (PLEASE stop this now if you’re an organization that does this) Feedback should be continuous if you want to build trust, AND performance in virtual teams. Regular, meaningful feedback lets your team know where they stand and how they’re doing. It also demonstrates that you care. Being emotionally aware help leaders deliver that feedback in a way that’s constructive, not critical. Being relationally aware, makes it a two-way conversation, creating space for them to share their thoughts, too. When feedback flows both ways, it builds a culture of growth and accountability. Consistent, open feedback strengthens trust and keeps your virtual team moving forward together.