Leaders

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…

Unlocking the true power of remote work means mastering the art of virtual teamwork – and it's a skill that can make or break your success.

Why It Matters

The collective intelligence of a team is far greater than the sum of its individual parts. This intelligence can elevate every phase of a project, from initial brainstorming to final review.

But here's the catch: the communication challenges introduced by remote work can undermine your team's collaborative efforts. That's why it's crucial t…

One-on-one meetings with your direct reports or leader are hard to get right in person and even harder online. Experience shows that omitting one-on-one meetings is riskier than you may have thought.

“The 1:1 is the only forum where you can have an honest, private, conversation with each other about what’s really going on—professionally and personally.” (Austin, 2016)

“Failing to use time with direct reports in a meaningful way or, worse, skipping these meetings altogether, can lead to hig…

Hybrid Town Halls prioritise the needs of the in-office staff and leaders over the needs of remote or distributed staff. Where a large percentage of the audience is joining virtually, an all-virtual event instead ensures everyone is given the same experience and opportunity.

Why it matters

Considering the needs of everyone on your team when organising Town Hall meetings, not only creates a better experience for staff, it’s also a better use of everyone’s time (and your money).

Take action

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The absence of faces in online meetings presents a distinct hurdle to effective communication and engagement. ¹

Why it matters

• Cameras on in meetings improves attention and enhances learning and social experiences.
• Effective collaboration and problem solving needs to be specifically addressed in remote work environments, it doesn’t always happen naturally.

Take action

• Not all meetings need camera on, but for the ones that do, set expectations up front
• Give all attendees a role, they …