Not a hack: The STRATEGY to be a great remote manager
It’s 2023. Technology, data transmission, and digital communication have begun to spring to their full capacity. The statistic for people looking for remote roles has gone up by 460% since 2021 (Source: CNBC). Safe to say, managers must be remote-savvy to help their people traverse this paradigm shift.
Judging the book by its contents:: Managers must wrap their heads around the fact that remote work can be challenging. Even the most high-performing employees, in the absence of training, may experience a drop in performance and motivation as they transition to remote work. (Source: Forbes)
When a remote-first infrastructure is in place, the shift is simple. The degree of adjustment is tied to two maturity factors: culture and tools.
When a remote-first infrastructure is in place, the shift is simple. The degree of adjustment is tied to two maturity factors: culture and tools.
Back to the drawing board: Gleaning valuable tips from industry leaders managing the world’s highest performing remote teams — up next are a few nuggets of knowledge.
- Structured daily check-ins: Successful remote managers set up daily team calls to ensure a collaborative start to the day. Keep it crisp. Aside from the day’s priorities, slip in a personal touch base. How they’re doing, their health, their concerns, and whether they’re looking forward to the day.
- Creative ways for communication: Email alone is insufficient. Video conferencing is particularly useful for complex or sensitive conversations, as well as for visual cues to ease the brief. For less formal conversations and quick collaboration, offer mobile-responsive instant messaging tools such as Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and the leagues of them.
- Be approachable: Managers are often strapped for time. A critical, but prevalent, misconception is assuming that you can save time by not engaging in conversaions with your immediate team. GitLab, a remote-first company, encourages managers to be approachable. Some employees may prefer more communication or regular affirmation. Be able to adapt to their preferences.
- Keep track of ideas, not timetables: Remote setting is a melting pot of numerous time zones, personal conveniences, and working customs. The diversity demands an asynchronous workflow. Maintain inclusivity. For example, eliminate time zone bias while sending a meeting invite, allow flexibility, and put everyone on a bespoke footing.
- Empathy and fun: In the midst of social distance, informal conversations allow work friendships to bloom. 57% of people attribute being invested in their job to work pals (Source: Gitlab). As there are no corridors for your remote team to meet, carpool, or have water cooler conversations, managers must create inorganic opportunities. Adjust your methods to fit in amicable meetings. Dedicate a few hours a week to social calls. Design an environment where your team feels comfortable approaching you to converse about matters unrelated to work.
The easter eggs
- Prioritize results over hours
- Encourage teamwork & one-on-one
- Watch out for signs of loneliness or isolation
- Say thank you often
On that note, we shall leave you to introspect and act. Best wishes from the remote workers at Flexipert.
