You're collaborating with a remote team member you've never met. How can you build trust effectively?

Building trust with a remote team member you've never met starts with open and consistent communication. Begin by being transparent about your expectations and goals, and take the time to understand theirs. Regular check-ins, whether via video calls, messages, or emails, help establish a connection and show reliability. Actively listen and respond thoughtfully to their input, demonstrating that you value their contributions. Additionally, be dependable—follow through on your commitments and be timely with your responses. Small gestures, like recognizing their efforts or showing appreciation, can go a long way in building a strong, trust-based working relationship.

You need to get to know your teammates personally. To start, have a remote "coffee chat" where you spend 15 minutes on a video conference discussing anything but your current workload. What are their hobbies and interests? Do they have a favorite restaurant? How did they end up in their career? At the end, commit to a regular check in for the duration of the project. Break that 1 on 1 into three components: Current work, Future Work (what work is to come next in the project), and a Personal Check-in ("What's new in life?" Bring up that hobby they mentioned in your first coffee chat). This approach should humanize the working relationship, and act as a reminder to the both of you that you're just two people working towards a shared goal.

Make sure that you are using the right tools for communication, i.e. not just emails or chats, you occasionally phone each other or talk via videoconference. We tend to trust more those people we have seen or know certain characteristics of, such as voice. There are also many teambuilding activities that can be done online, this will also give you the opportunity to build trust with this person.

Building trust with a remote colleague you've never met requires intentional and consistent effort. I suggest starting with regular check-ins to establish rapport and ensure you’re aligned on projects. In my experience, being transparent about your work processes and inviting them to share theirs fosters mutual understanding. One thing I’ve found helpful is acknowledging their achievements and contributions regularly. This creates a positive and supportive environment, helping to bridge the physical distance and build a strong, trust-based working relationship.

Para generar confianza con un miembro del equipo remoto que no has conocido, realiza controles regulares para mantener la comunicación abierta, sé transparente en tus acciones y decisiones, y reconoce sus contribuciones. Estas estrategias crearán una base sólida de confianza y fortalecerán la colaboración a distancia.