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...]
When to Invest in New Virtual Team Tools
If your virtual team is resistant to using new technology, or you’re suffering update fatigue, (I’m looking at you, Microsoft Lync/Skype/Teams/Whatever’s next) I want you to think about this quote from the head of the Roman Empire in England in the year 80: “I lay aside all hopes of any new works or engines of war, the invention of which has reached its limit and in which I … [Read more...]
5 Wrong Assumptions HR Makes about Remote Work
I feel sorry for HR people. They are responsible for the least predictable and most combustible resource a company has: human beings. They are often the last to be consulted when a business problem faces a company and the first to be called on for answers. This is true when it comes to setting remote work policy for your company. We’ve said many times that remote work and … [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...]