Why Remote Work Fuels Subtle Workplace Politics

Have your remote teams been unknowingly breeding politics through silence and distance?

In episode 254 of At The Table, Pat and Cody explore how remote work can unintentionally foster politics and erode trust within teams. They unpack why virtual communication creates space for misunderstanding and suspicion—even among well-intentioned people. They also offer practical advice for building connections, restoring trust, and maintaining healthy team dynamics across distance.

Topics explored in this episode: 

(00:00) Understanding Virtual Politics

* How “virtual politics” can be thought of as the subtle mistrust that grows when people work apart.

(03:30) How Distance Fuels Assumptions

* How lack of information makes people fill in the gaps—often with negative assumptions.

(06:27) Building Proactive Trust

* How frequent, small check-ins can keep trust alive.

* Why men and women sometimes handle connection differently and how teams can structure regular contact.

(09:43) Efficiency vs. Relationship

* How Zoom culture prioritizes efficiency over connection. 

* Pat introduces the concept of “wasting time well” as essential for maintaining team health.

(11:52) The Ladder of Inference 

* Pat explains the “ladder of inference” and how remote work accelerates false assumptions.

This episode of At The Table with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable. 

At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube). 

Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni. 

Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube). 

Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com. 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.