When we talk about remote work, we throw the word “team” around a lot. But do you have a real team, or just a bunch of people who all report to the same manager? The difference can matter a lot. A recent study on employee engagement by ADP and done by Marcus Buckingham among others, made the claim that those workers, virtual or not, who are part of a team are more engaged … [Read more...]
Treating Remote Workers Equally Doesn’t Mean Treating Them the Same
If you have a hybrid team—one where some of your folks work in a central location and some are teleworking or off-site—you have probably heard your share of whining that you’re treating one part of the team differently than the other. It might sound something like this: “The people who work from home, have it made. They don’t have to commute, can wear what they want, and don’t … [Read more...]
Share the Learning on Remote Teams
One of the most important functions of a team is to share knowledge and learning. Whether you're determining the fastest way to solve a customer problem or where the the creamer is in the break room, we all have a constant need for new data in our lives. When we work apart from each other, that information sharing may not happen without a little nudge. As both a leader and a … [Read more...]
Are You Taking Too Many for the Team?
As leaders we know we are expected to work at least as hard as the people we work with. That’s a given. But today we want to talk about costs of constantly sacrificing yourself. This is relevant to any leader, but when you lead remote teams, there are additional stressors and reasons managers wind up burning out by “taking one for the team.” Ironically, those who take the role … [Read more...]
The Caveman Approach to Remote Worker Engagement
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...]