Work Together Anywhere
by Lisette Sutherland & K. Janene-Nelson
Self-isolation. Social distancing. Quarantined. Two years ago, Lisette Sutherland, an international champion of virtual team strategies had no idea when she wrote the book, Work Together Anywhere how relevant her in-depth, conversational textbook on the subject would become due to a worldwide pandemic. Whatever you need to know, Sutherland will tell you how to organize yourself and your teams with resources, tips and techniques guaranteed for success in today’s escalated thrust into a remote-working world.
Why are we reading this book?
Typically, books about working off-site address the needs of individuals, freelancers or telecommuters which is thoroughly addressed in Part I of this book. In Work Together Anywhere, the operative word is together. Part IV outlines the full range of what it means to manage remote teams and how to make the experience productive, effective and fun for everyone. What could be timelier for today’s new level of digital demands on what has become a near nonexistent traditional workplace setting? We know it works because Pazanga Health team is a virtual collective that has worked remotely for 14 years.
Backstory:
For individuals, teams and managers to successfully work remotely, a mindset shift is required. Ever since employers have been hiring workers, the practice has always been to hire from the pool of qualified workers able to convene at a central location. With virtual workstations, the location becomes the variable and the constant becomes hiring the best and the brightest regardless of where they are located. Thus, “…work is something you do, not a place where you go.”
Challenge:
For a remote team to succeed, its manager must both believe that remote teams can succeed and trust that each member will come through as expected. What’s needed is a change in thinking from time-based working to results-based working.
Solution:
The trust solution requires letting employees demonstrate reliability. An employee can be working all day, but without a sharing method, it’s hard to know. Ways to “work out loud” include email updates, daily stand-ups, and using tools such as intranets and online apps. Trust is further developed by acknowledging good work, initiating bonding practices and adopting the mentality of “the more I share, the more powerful I become.” Add it all up and the result is a powerfully successful team.
Solution Steps:
- Part I–perfect for those just beginning to work remotely with FAQ’s and how to’s of replicating on-site to online
- Part II–details applicable to individuals working remotely
- Part III–consideration of the remote option from management perspective
- Part IV–manager’s action plans, a full range of guidelines to translate on-site to online
Summary:
Being a successful remote worker also makes a more successful person—more intentional, more conscious, more thorough. Connection happens when remote workers pay attention to others in the process. And, magic happens when teams align, dreams become goals, and goals become reality. With focus on trust, agreement on how to work together, and cultivation of closeness, working together is a success whether it’s in person or virtual.