The Remote Work Handbook: The Definitive Guide for Operationalizing Remote Work as a Competitive Business Strategy

Description

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. 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