HBR Guide to Remote Work
Overview:
This guide addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by remote work, providing actionable advice for both employees and managers. It covers topics including staying focused, managing boundaries, maintaining motivation, navigating virtual meetings, building relationships, and fostering team cohesion in a remote environment. The guide emphasizes proactive communication, clear expectations, and intentional effort to build trust and connection across distances.
Key Themes and Ideas:
- Maintaining Focus and Productivity: The guide emphasizes the importance of establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life. This involves setting defined “office hours,” creating routines to signal the start and end of the workday, and minimizing distractions.
- “But a big shift occurred when I set up “office hours” for working from home (for me, that was about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. most weekdays) and clarified what was or wasn’t acceptable to do during that time.”
- “You’re only as distracted as you let yourself be.” (Implied from the chapter title)
- The guide advises to break down work into manageable chunks and find dedicated, focused execution time to avoid juggling too many tasks at once.
- “Break work into small, doable chunks. Find gaps in your schedule for focused execution time so that you can complete projects one by one.”
- Setting Boundaries: Remote work blurs the lines between personal and professional lives, so setting clear boundaries is crucial.
- “Consider when you’re working on a project and get a call from a friend. You know you need to finish your work, but you feel rude for not talking when technically you could. Or think about when you’re planning your daily to-do list but also need to decide when you’ll squeeze in your personal commitments.”
- The guide suggests being firm but diplomatic with unexpected visitors, offering alternative times to connect outside of work hours.
- “If a neighbor pops by, be open for a conversation for a few minutes, just as you would with a colleague who stops by your desk. But don’t suggest they come in for a cup of coffee or have an extended discussion.”
- Staying Motivated and Avoiding Isolation: The guide acknowledges that remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and decreased motivation.
- It recommends using time saved on commuting for activities like reading, taking breaks outside the home, making someone else happy, and exercising to maintain sanity and productivity.
- “USE THE TIME YOU SAVE ON COMMUTING TO READ A GOOD BOOK”
- “GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY”
- “EXERCISE”
- Effective Remote Communication: The guide highlights the challenges of remote communication and offers strategies for clear, empathetic interaction.
- It encourages moving conversations away from email when conflicts arise, utilizing phone or video calls to resolve misunderstandings.
- “If you’re arguing via email, stop. Pick up the phone and call your colleague, or schedule a time to do a video call. “In order to resolve a conflict, both sides have to understand the other’s perspective.”
- It advises being mindful of language used when referring to remote workers to avoid creating an “us versus them” dynamic.
- “Physical distance can sometimes create an “us versus them” feeling. Mortensen says it’s critical that you “watch the language you use when talking about remote workers and make sure you’re not creating fractures within your team.”
- “Understand your cues and shorthand. Spend the time to communicate with the intention of being ultraclear, no matter the medium. Indeed, you can never be too clear, but it is too easy to be less clear than you should be.”
- The guide highlights that in written communication, watch out for virtual unconscious bias, where punctuation, grammar, and word choice might reveal prejudiced attitudes toward certain groups.
- Managing Virtual Meetings: The guide provides tips for conducting effective virtual meetings, including setting clear agendas, encouraging participation, and managing the conversation. It covers active listening, voting, and creative problem solving.
- “Then, at the beginning of each meeting, ask three people to take a couple of minutes to share what’s happening with them.”
- “During the meeting, use people’s names”
- “With your permission, I intend to manage our conversation today in a deliberate fashion so that we stay on track and make sure everyone gets heard.”
- “Poll people early and often.”
- Leadership in a Remote Context: For managers, the guide stresses the importance of setting clear goals and expectations, building interpersonal trust, providing frequent feedback, and enhancing safety through clear boundaries.
- “Then, in the cadence of meetings that you have already established, have frequent discussions with your boss to make sure you’re both checking in on your progress on a regular basis. It’s important to establish clear lines of accountability from the start.”
- “It helps to make your objectives broader than usual. For example, what do you want the other person (or people) to feel after you talk?”
- “By setting expectations and giving others space, we meet people where they are and give them permission to set their own boundaries.”
- The guide highlights that some people thrive when working remotely, while others may feel a lack of motivation or encounter other unforeseen challenges.
- Building Resilience and Avoiding Burnout: Remote work can contribute to burnout, so the guide emphasizes the importance of recovery and resilience.
- “Based on our current research, we have come to realize that the problem is not our hectic schedule or the plane travel itself; the problem comes from a misunderstanding of what it means to be resilient, and the resulting impact of overworking.”
- It suggests taking tech-free breaks, moving as much as possible, and recognizing the difference between rest and recovery.
- “Stopping does not equal recovering.”
- Demonstrating Value and Advancing Your Career: The guide advises employees to proactively communicate their accomplishments, work out differences with colleagues independently, and build a mentoring team.
- “But if you have accomplished something significant, share it… Focus on being seen not only as a valuable individual contributor but also as someone who elevates the entire team.”
- “Throughout your career, you need a team of people who will mentor you.”
- “Remember, every “yes” is your opportunity to add value for others and build up your indispensability.”
- Virtual Interviews: The guide suggests to rehearse ahead of time, experiment with how you might answer common questions, and rehearse in the spot where you plan to do the interview so that you can see how you look on camera.
Actionable Advice:
- For Employees:Establish clear boundaries and routines.
- Communicate proactively and seek clarification.
- Take regular breaks and prioritize well-being.
- Showcase your value and contributions.
- Cultivate relationships with colleagues and mentors.
- For Managers:Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback.
- Foster a culture of trust and transparency.
- Be mindful of communication styles and time zones.
- Offer support and resources to team members.
- Promote work-life balance and well-being.
Overall Message:
The HBR Guide to Remote Work provides a comprehensive framework for navigating the complexities of remote work, emphasizing that success requires intentionality, proactive communication, and a focus on building relationships and fostering a supportive team environment. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, both employees and managers can thrive in the remote work landscape.
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