Best Advice for Managers Going Remote - Our Network Weighs In
In this post, Pilar shares a question we posed on LinkedIn about the best advice for a new business going remote, and the wise insights and advice we received from our network.
Quick, I have a question for you…
If you had a friend who was going to move their business remote and they’re going to open their laptop at 9 am on Monday, what is the one piece of advice that you would give them?
We posed this question on our LinkedIn page and received some insightful comments and some things we really had not thought about before.
Here are the responses...
“Is this a trick question? 😁 It is not about the laptop but rethinking how to work.”
It’s easy to focus on the tech. It’s always been. But there are many conversations that need to happen before we can use technology to help us stay connected and do our best work.
“As the leader of the organization you have an opportunity to lead the way on having the company thoughtfully develop new norms for how they will succeed as a remote team. Recognizing that what worked for you as an office based team will help but leave you far short. So, call a meeting and begin to form a team charter that will be the touchstone. Pilar Orti your work and Lisette Sutherland are wonderful resources for that leader.”
This is an incredible opportunity to have a good think about what worked in the office that you want to keep and what you want to change. What are the opportunities that working as a remote team offers you? And yes, do check out our resources and those from Collaboration Superpowers!
“Find ways to connect people across roles and teams. Someone should be considering ways to nurture community continually.”
I really liked how Heidi put this. Unless someone's looking after building the network, it ain't going to happen… Like with everything in the online space, you need to be deliberate about it.
“I would ask if they had mimicked their commute to work BEFORE opening the laptop at 9am - to start on day 1 to embed that positive habit and create a ritual.”
This might just be the one thing worth replicating from the office job. Can you turn your commute into a “digital commute”? What can you do to make sure your workdays have start and end points?
(Coincidentally, Chris Coladonato offers some useful thoughts on this same topic in this podcast episode - WLP262: Building a Routine and Building a Network When Working from Home.)
“Be yourself and trust your own skills and competencies.”
Nice one! That will go to the core of those who fear that working through tech with others reduces the human aspect. It’s still you behind that computer. The essence of leadership is what will drive you forward.
This is a good time for reflection and to adjust your leadership practice so that it works from wherever you and your team work now, and in the future!
A special thank you to all of our contributors for their insightful advice.
And now over to you: How would you answer this question? We want to hear - let us know in the comments below.
Be sure to follow us over on LinkedIn as we’ll be posting more questions like this, and we’d love to hear from you!
If you need further inspiration, I invite you to continue checking out our Virtual not Distant resources, including our free guide Leading Through Visible Teamwork, which is now available when you sign up to our monthly newsletter below.