Managing Remotely
140 companies answer 6 questions
Managing a remote or distributed team successfully requires good support, planning, and communication. Whether deciding if and how to get the team to meet in person or defining the line between vacation and flexible work, the management of a remote team has differences from managing traditional on-site teams. In our Managing Remotely section we ask top remote companies how they keep their teams running smoothly from thousands of miles away.
Do you have remote communication protocols for your remote workers?
Yes. Here’s a direct quote from the handout we use: “Sometimes a quick response is needed to a question. When this is required, please either…
When working, our remote workers must always be in chat and respond as soon as they are able to (not interrupt their engaged call). We…
We do have guidelines, and they apply for everyone, including leadership. For example, if something isn’t urgent, we strongly encourage emails in place of chat—especially…
Do you organize remote team retreats?
Logistics are a pain, but the outcome is always worth it. Just allow plenty of time for planning and be frank with everyone that it…
For a remote team, the main focus is actually just to spend time together face-to-face, so plan everything around that. We find a yearly all-team…
We meetup as an entire team at least twice per year. We call them JarFests. We work hard to plan them in a fun city…
Do your remote team members meet in person?
We have an all company summit every year where the entire organization gets together for 3+ days. Regional team members are encouraged to cowork and…
There are many different ways that our team members ultimately meet some of each other in person: At conferences that we send them to At…
We don’t host meetups, but the Hubstaff team members who live in the same areas often work together. For example, both Dave and Jared live…
How do you measure the productivity of remote workers?
At Toggl, we have a result oriented culture and everyone’s productivity is measured by their results. We have small teams working together: back end team,…
We’re very selective about what we measure. We care about goals achieved, not hours spent in a chair. We don’t micromanage, and we don’t track…
We are a very metrics-oriented company. Every employee knows the company’s annual and quarterly Objectives and Key Results (ORKs) and corresponding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).…
What elements are key to successful working relationships with remote teams?
Well, we only have remote workers, including me. For a 100% distributed team, I’d point to a few key resources: A flexible, instant “virtual office…
Communication is key. Keep the lines of communication open at all times, whether through regular meetings or just a quick check-in via instant messaging.
Effective communication Understanding Accommodation
What is the hardest part about managing a remote workforce?
The most difficult part is helping your team stay motivated and feel part of a team when they have never met. In the office, a…
The toughest part about managing a remote workforce is making sure everyone feels connected to the team and culture of Appirio. We work very hard…
There’s arguably more overhead placed on the shoulders of leaders in a remote company. The hardest thing is to acknowledge the overhead and be really…
How do you keep remote employees engaged and feeling part of the bigger picture?
It’s really all about creating intentional communication to ensure everyone is “in the loop.” We also have a Director of Employee Happiness whose job it…
We talk all the time. A short, daily all-hands meeting allows everyone to understand the what and the why. We make a point of being…
Talk to them – constantly, consistently, openly. Always make sure they know that they’re part of the team because they each bring tremendous and unique…
What is your BYOD policy for remote workers?
Our company provides computer hardware and software to all our team members.
Canonical requires that all team members (remote or office based) use their own device. Team members have the flexibility to choose their preferred laptop or…
We don’t have a formal BYOD/A program like some companies do, however it’s important that people can do their jobs effectively, and that means supplying…
What is your time off policy for remote workers?
We do not have a time off limit. However, for it to be worth my while to manage our resources, they have to contribute a minimum…
We ask that everyone let their team members know about any planned time off with as much advance notice as possible. There’s not limit, but…
Pretty basic – any PTO needs to be checked with your team and cleared with your manager. There’s nothing more formal than that in place,…
What were your biggest fears in managing remote workers?
My biggest fear is that one day I’ll wake up and simply be too frustrated that I don’t get to physically hang out with other…
We very naively started all being remote, so there were no fears. Here’s a challenge that surprised me: on the same day, I had a…
We were not afraid.
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