The Remote Work Handbook: The Definitive Guide for Operationalizing Remote Work as a Competitive Business Strategy is for readers seeking to leverage the business benefits of a flexible, remote workforce. It is a practical guide for building and implementing remote work at any size organization. C-suite executives, operation leaders, business owners, or entrepreneurs who recognize the workplace is changing can use it to re-tool their operations for a strategic business advantage. Mari Anne Snow, the author, is a recognized remote work expert with over 20 years of experience leading remote teams and has re-written the rules of leadership to unlock the potential in remote and distributed teams. In this book, she shares all her secrets.
The book explores the untapped potential of remote teams and lays out the business case for adopting a new, flexible workplace model to build organizational resilience and a competitive edge. It takes the reader through the step-by-step process of constructing a remote work operating model, staging an implementation, then institutionalizing and sustaining the change. It includes down-to-earth professional and personal stories that alert the reader to the top priorities and operational realities they will face as they craft their own implementation plan for operationalizing remote work at their company.
Author(s): Mari Anne Snow
Publisher: Routledge/Productivity Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 194
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
1. Workplace Flexibility Is a Smart Business Move
Testing Your Assumptions − What Is a Remote Team?
Competitive Advantages of Remote Teams
This Is an Opportunity to Access the Potential of Your Existing Remote Talent More Effectively
Highly Skilled Remote Employees Add a Lot of Business Value and Need Less Managing
Retaining Valuable Remote Talent Is a Smart Cost-Savings Strategy
A Remote Workforce Is a More Adaptive Workforce
To Achieve These Results, Prepare to Re-Tool Your Mindset and Your Operations
Why Adopt Remote Work as a Business Strategy Now?
Highlights
2. Build It Right
Identify the Remote Work Operating Model that Is Right for You
Start with the End in Mind, then Recruit Help
Take a Multi-Discipline Approach, But Assign a Remote Work Champion to Lead
Recruit from the Top, Middle, and Line Level
Seek Support and Buy-in from Executive Sponsors and Key Stakeholders
Highlights
3. The Five Organizational Components of Remote Work
Highlights
4. Component One: Infrastructure
Networks, the Cloud, and Business System Access
Devices, Apps, and Backups
Systems, Data, and IP Security
Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory Considerations
Role of the Help Desk
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning Post-2020
Highlights
5. Component Two: Operational Protocols
Work Processes and Workflows
Communication Protocols
Work Schedules and Defining Availability
Software and Business Systems
Remote Workforce and System User Security Responsibilities
Remote Workplace Safety
Highlights
6. Component Three: Performance Accountability Measures
Organizational Mission and Core Values
Business Goals and Deliverables
Universal Performance Metrics
Job Descriptions
Functional Requirements and Existing KPIs
Interpersonal Interaction Protocols
Remote Team Meeting Protocols
Best Practices for Effectively Executing Fully Virtual Meetings (All Participants Virtual Logging in from Their Individual Devices)
Best Practices for Hybrid Meetings (Some Participants are Physical Present in a Meeting Space, and Others Log in Remotely)
Managing Larger Group Meetings
Highlights
7. Component Four: Talent Management Systems
Universal Remote Work Skills and Competencies
Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Policies
Compensation
Benefits
Employee Policies
Remote Team Recruiting and Hiring
30−60−90 Onboarding Systems
The Leader-Led Accountability Cycle
Performance Review Process
Career Paths for Remote Employees
Disciplinary Process
Highlights
8. Component Five: Remote Workforce Training
Integrate New Hires Thoughtfully
Upskill Leadership
Rethink Mentoring
Build Team Resilience
Incorporate Contractors into Your Culture
Institutionalize Continual Learning
Highlights
9. Operationalizing Your Remote Work Business Model
Leverage Pilots to Test Your Plan
Build a Network of Remote Work Experts
Recruit Engaged Executive Sponsors
Collect and Analyze Data to Measure Progress
Create a Robust Reporting Process
Expand the Rollout Past the Pilot
Highlights
10. Managing Change
LISTEN: Conduct a Listening Tour and Shop Your Ideas
EXPLAIN THE “WHY”: Shape the Narrative
OVER COMMUNICATE: Share Information Freely
RECRUIT: Focus on the Convertibles
CELEBRATE: Recognize, Reward, and Acknowledge
STAY ALERT: Assess, Iterate, Adapt, and Pay Attention to Warning Signs
Creating a Regional Readiness Activities Checklist
Highlights
11. Multi-Channel Communications
Leverage the Online to Offline (O2O2O) Communication Flow
Communication in Remote Teams Works Differently
Build Remote Team Communication Systems then Standardize Them
Create Touchpoints that Build Remote Team Engagement
Teach Yourself and Your People Channel Etiquette
Email
Instant Messaging and Chat Functions
Group Work Platforms
Texting
Voicemail
Use of CC: and “Reply All”
Recognize Digital Communication Limits
Reduce Message Distortion by Connecting Directly to Your Audience
Highlights
12. Institutionalizing Remote Work
Plan Beyond the Rollout
Budget to Support the New Model
Build Business Goals Tied Directly to Remote Work
Hire and Promote Using the New Model
Align the Performance Review Process
Track Progress, Communicate, and Report Gains
Highlights
13. Build on Team Achievements
Recognize Achievements, Become a Spokesperson
Keep Iterating
Up the Ante Over Time
Highlights
Bibliography
Index
