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?
We try to avoid too many emails, instead using Trello to communicate, Skype for IM, Jing for training, etc. On weekdays due to the timezones…
As with an office based role, remote workers are required to be available during the working day. Generally most managers will establish the norms, as…
No, we don’t have any rules or communication norms. Certain teams like to do regular calls while others do not. Personally, I dislike scheduled meetings…
Do you organize remote team retreats?
Once a year we converge on a tropical location for our annual company retreat. (You can find a recap of our 2016 team trip here.)…
In the earlier days when the team was ~15 people, we would gather the whole company together for week-long (Mon-Fri) retreats in different locations 4…
At our team meetings, we do organize loads of stuff, which are fun and supports team building. Most of the time we are away for…
Do your remote team members meet in person?
Yes, we usually kick-off a project in house – so we’ll fly folks in for that. Also, we host an annual retreat every year for…
Every department is different, but for the most part, yes. The marketing team has what we call a ‘marketing summit.’ Every quarter, we get together…
The full team meets together at least twice a year. There are meetups by various teams based on need and geography throughout the year.
How do you measure the productivity of remote workers?
We’re a very results oriented company, but for client services work depending upon the contract type we do track hours and do things that are…
We try not to measure productivity. Instead we value working with passion. If someone is not working with passion then we want to know why. We…
I am very fortunate to have an incredible team of consultants. They are self-starters who work until the job is done. This type of work…
What elements are key to successful working relationships with remote teams?
Trust Culture Communication Accountability Self-Motivation
Weekly calls are important, as is setting and communicating realistic and exciting goals.
The principles of a successful working relationship with remote teammates do not differ that much from any other relationship. You have to be responsive, goal-oriented,…
What is the hardest part about managing a remote workforce?
When something goes wrong, there’s usually somebody on Slack to help with the issue. But in some rare cases when you really need something, you…
Ensuring that there is a common understanding of practices and procedures to help everything run smoothly.
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…
How do you keep remote employees engaged and feeling part of the bigger picture?
Every once in awhile, we send treats to all our employees. These can include snacks, wine, team hats, and more. And we’re always sending out…
Clear and precise communication, including town hall meetings, fireside chats, e-learning training sessions, and reward programs reinforcing performance.
Our weekly video standups really help here. However, we also do company-wide retreats twice a year to get everyone together face to face.
What is your BYOD policy for remote workers?
Our employees get a laptop for administration work, as well as a display, keyboard, and mouse. The software developers and QA team may have different…
We provide all equipment people need to do their jobs. If someone wants to use their own device, that’s fine too.
All gig workers are required to supply their own equipment as a business owner.
What is your time off policy for remote workers?
We require 21 days notice for requested time off.
We have an open leave policy which reinforces our hierarchy of needs. Take care of yourself/family first and your team second which will create the…
You can take off whatever days/weeks needed and as long as you have someone covering for your clients, we are fine.
What were your biggest fears in managing remote workers?
My biggest fear is that I do not always know what employees feel. When I make an update, what do they think? Sure, they give…
I never had any fears. We’ve been told countless times that at some point we need to get an office and have a headquarters so…
That it would be harder than it actually is. In fact, the management problems are the same regardless of location.