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...]
Stress and the Remote Worker
by Chuck Chapman, Content Strategy Coordinator Have you ever had a stressful day at the office and thought about how much calmer and happier you would be if you worked from home? You're probably not alone in that thought, but according to a recent Baylor University study, the "chill" remote worker may just be a figment of our imagination. Sure, remote work offers a number … [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...]
Building a Culture of Trust
by Chuck Chapman, Content Strategy Coordinator Kevin and Wayne spend an entire chapter (chapter 11 if you want to reference) in The Long-Distance Leader talking about the importance of trust with remote teams and unpacking their model (see below). Trust is one of those "squishy" concepts, however, that can make some leaders uneasy. While it's usually pretty apparent when … [Read more...]
Remote Leaders Must Adapt to Modern Times
By Chuck Chapman, Content Strategy Coordinator We're over 100 years removed from the assembly line and the industrial leadership mindset that came with it. That leadership model is best illustrated by the foreman in this classic Charlie Chaplin clip from Modern Times: That micro-managing style of leadership, standing over the worker barking orders to "work faster" … [Read more...]