I'm about to give a series of workshops ("Managing a Remote Workforce") and to make sure I'm current on the best thinking, I naturally did my (re)search by googling that title.
Up came this great white paper, Managing a Remote Workforce: Proven Practices from Successful Leaders, from my old friends and colleagues, Jim Ware and Charlie Grantham. Their research was sponsored by Citrix, the gotomeeting folks.
Here are five practices that I've "stolen" (with their permission) for what I'm presenting today and tomorrow:
1. Develop formal, explicit, strategic programs with senior management sponsors
2. Work differently
- Redesigned business processes
- New technologies
- New ways to communicate
- Outcomes measured, rewarded not monitoring employees
3. Training is critical
4. Collaboration technologies are central to success
5. Unsuccessful without thoughtful planning; aggressive implementation; significant organizational, cultural change