Managing remote teams

Managing Remote TeamJane Prusakova

Remote: lack of perception

What makes for a

REMOTE TEAM

Another floor or building

Working from the beach for an afternoon

Telecommuting on a regular basis

Offshoring work

Communicate via technology

… or very expensive technology

What works locally• Rich communication• Tone of voice• Facial expressions and body language• Immediate response

• Shared environment• Public space• Dress code and other social clues

Remote challenges• “Out of site, out of mind”

• How can I trust someone I have never met?

• Communication• Conversation 110 – 150 words/min• Lecturing 150 – 160 words/min• Reading 200 – 250 words/min• Phone comprehension requires slowing down

Face-2-face is always better than remote*

•Minimize remote-ness• Move people to a closer office• Ask telecommuting employees to visit the

office• Invest in travel for far-flung team members

* Remote teams can be awesome, too

Becoming aware•what works

•what is important• little and not-so-little things

• your instincts are likely wrong

Communication: being heard

Communication: EQ

Communication: listening• Comprehension & retainment less than 50%

•Need to work harder for remote communication

Keep remote folks in mind• Smaller teams

• Conscious effort to remember entire team

• Visual reminders• Names on the board• Pictures

Watch out for

Get to know remote team members

Share your personality

Simplify communication• Continuously open channels• Text, audio, video

• Temporary targeted channels• Meeting support

• Shared visuals

Build a two-way street•Direct communication

• Allow for subtleties

• Be forgiving

Learn to address distributed audience• Share focus• Talk to the in-room and remote participants

• Check up on technology frequently• Phone lines drop and software crashes

• Stop if remote folks can not participate• Just like you would if there was fire alarm in the building

Bring the team together• Decide on office soundtrack• Design a music stream as a team

• Create a team picture• Use Photoshop if you have to

• Long-distance team lunch• Pick a food that everyone will enjoy – and order it for all

Check-in frequently

Overcoming remote-ness• Be aware of long-distance effects

• Build and maintain human connections

• Learn to use communication technologies

Managing Remote TeamJane Prusakova