Articles
Leaders
Convince the introverts: organising in-office time for your remote workers
The thought of remote workers returning to a traditional office setting, even for a single day, often meets with scepticism and reluctance. However, a well-planned and purpose-driven office day can offer surprising benefits that enhance team dynamics, boost productivity, and rejuvenate company culture.
Why it matters
By balancing remote work with occasional in-person collaboration, you can leverage the strengths of both approaches, fostering a more cohesive, productive, and engaged team.
Take…
Don’t ask how many people are in the office. Ask is the job getting done.
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…
Mastering work-life balance: essential tips for remote teams
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:
- Set boundaries between work and personal life
Without a clear boundary, employees may find themselves working longer hours, leading to burnout and decreased productivity.…
Healthy culture = engagement = results
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…
You can't trust people you don't know
In an office trust builds organically. In a remote team you need to intentionally schedule activities that build trust.
Why It Matters
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful team, but it's especially crucial for remote teams. Without face-to-face interactions, misunderstandings can easily arise, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
Building trust in your team helps to create an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and seeking feedba…
Keep lines of communication open for your remote team
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 …
Managing outcomes rather than actions
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…
Get across it: the rise of bossware and employee monitoring
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…
The agile standup is still relevant in a remote work environment.
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 …
The return to office: a leadership mirage
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…