Productivity

If you lead a team that’s successfully working from home, but you’re facing the scrutiny of senior leaders who want everyone back in the office, make sure you’re giving them evidence that the work is getting done, your people are happier and you have the capacity to resolve issues.

Why it matters

Maintaining remote work means getting senior leaders on board. If you keep them in the dark about your successes, they don’t have all the information they need to make decisions about the future of re…

Remote work is blurring the lines between home life and work life.

Why it Matters

The wellbeing of your team should be your number one priority. Recognise and address the signs of an unhealthy work / life balance before your team burn out.

Take Action

Help support your remote team to achieve balanced and fulfilling work:

1. Set boundaries between work and personal life
   Without a clear boundary, employees may find themselves working longer hours, leading to burnout and decreased productivity.…

Culture is not about mandating “fun” team activities, it’s the shared values, beliefs, and behaviours that shape how employees interact and work together.

In remote settings, work culture is built by how you interact and collaborate virtually. It's about creating an environment where team members feel connected and engaged despite not sharing a physical space.

Why it matters

When you emphasise values-based behaviours, team members are more likely to support one another, make decisions that re…

Miss a few updates when your team is in the office, no big deal. Miss a few updates in a remote environment and things can go downhill fast.

Why It Matters

Failing to consider and address communication issues with a remote team can lead to misunderstandings, reduced collaboration and decreased morale.

Take Action

Establish a culture of openness and inclusivity by encouraging team members to voice their concerns and provide feedback regularly. Set up regular check-ins and virtual meetings to …

The shift to remote work requires a rethink of management style. Traditionally, managers might have focused on the specific process employees follow to complete tasks. However, this can lead to micromanagement and distrust, particularly in remote settings where direct oversight is difficult. Instead, by clearly communicating desired outcomes to their teams, leaders can empower team members to use their expertise to determine the best ways to achieve those outcomes. This approach fosters trust, e…

Employee monitoring software is becoming increasingly popular. But research shows that keeping such a close eye on employees can reduce rather than boost engagement, productivity, and worker retention.

What is bossware?

Bossware is a catch-all term for employee monitoring software.

This software is designed to measure an employee’s productivity during a workday by tracking some or all of the following:

• Mouse movements;
• Keystrokes;
• Internet browsing history;
• Visibility of employee throug…

We spoke with agile expert Rita Tattersall about stand-ups and agile in the context of remote, hybrid and distributed workplaces.

Why It Matters

Agile stand-up meetings remain highly effective for team communication in a remote environment. While there is media debate about strictly adhering to agile principles versus adapting them, this discussion is sometimes superficial and can hinder effective teamwork. Context is crucial, and both pure agile and customised approaches have their place. IT …

As companies summon their employees back to the office, reality looms: physical proximity won't magically repair fractured leadership dynamics. Leaders who struggled to connect and inspire their teams remotely are likely to find themselves grappling with the same challenges within office walls.

Why it matters

While there are legitimate reasons for wanting employees back in the office, such as fostering collaboration, maintaining company culture or ensuring effective communication, it’s importa…

You might think that virtual brainstorming sessions are less effective than in-person ones, but that's not necessarily true. In fact, when done correctly, virtual brainstorming can be more productive, inclusive, and efficient than traditional face-to-face sessions.

Why it matters

Remote work doesn’t have to be a barrier to innovation, it can enhance it. Teams that intentionally redesign their idea generation process for the remote environment can:

• Harness diverse perspectives: With virtual …

Surveillance software is on the rise among employers looking to track the productivity of their remote workers— but research shows that monitoring is not an effective substitute for good management.

Why it matters

With remote work here to stay, it’s essential to consider how to keep an eye on employees who are out of sight.

Employee monitoring software has been widely accepted as a solution. As early as 2020, almost 60% of small-to-medium businesses in Australia used employee monitoring softw…