Employee engagement is often listed as the biggest challenge for people who lead remote, virtual, or hybrid teams. But if this is a problem that requires brand new, cutting-edge solutions, why are so many companies using caveman techniques to keep employees engaged? If you are of a certain age, you remember the cartoons where a caveman would club a prospective mate on the head … [Read more...]
How Long-Distance Leaders Can Simplify Learning
A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard. -Eliphas Levi, French educator 1810-1875 One of a leader's most important jobs is to help develop the skills of their team members. For many of us, this is why we became managers or leaders in the first place: we love helping others learn and succeed. But remote working … [Read more...]
Remote Work Isn’t for Everyone
With all the headlines about the wonders of remote work, and how everyone will be happier and more productive if we let them work wherever they want, it’s important to offer this little reminder: Virtual teams are not right for every company or every worker. There, I said it. This came to mind because an article in HR Today magazine had the scary title “Why are Companies … [Read more...]
Little Things that Add Up for Long-Distance Leaders
You might not have a favorite Greek philosopher, but I do. And you might not think someone who wrote at the time of the Roman Emperor Nero would be relevant to leading a remote team, but you’d be wrong. My boy Epictetus is still relevant. Particularly relevant today is this quote: “Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.” Yes, good … [Read more...]
Proactivity: The Secret to Successful Remote Teamwork
What makes a successful long-distance team member? The answer might surprise you. As part of our ongoing effort to survey long-distance leaders and the people who work for them, we’ve been asking a lot of questions. Whether it’s the managers or the individual workers, one word popped up again and again: Proactivity. Definitions.net has this to say about proactivity (and you … [Read more...]