In my first post, I mentioned that I would post some thoughts about managing people and teams when they’re not sitting right next to you. It’s a big topic so here’s something to help you get started.

Initial caveat: this post isn’t about recommending techniques or content that’ll help you solve the remote work puzzle. It’s not meant to help you expand your knowledge base. Instead, it’s intended to help you sort through the many approaches and techniques already out there.

Before you dive into resources and techniques on remote work, it’s worthwhile to prepare yourself for a common pitfall: information overload. Struggling with information overload is a pretty universal experience nowadays; you’ve probably dealt with it in something as simple as sorting through reviews for a household appliance. Information overload is bound to become a factor when delving into a dynamic topic like remote work.

My advice to keep from getting derailed is to start with a blank slate. Try not to consume content until you’ve considered your own specific needs and set a baseline.

Start with a simple exercise. Consider your (A) own preferred work location, and (B) your preferences when managing a team. Some things to think about:

Do you have a preferred work location (e.g., working from home vs. in-office)? What drives this preference?
Do you have a preference on where and how your team members work? Think about people you supervise. Do you want them to work from the office or in a shared space if possible? If you have a preference, what drives it?
List a minimum of 5-10 reasons you find it difficult to supervise team members when you don’t share space with them.

The exercise outlined above is intended to help you set a baseline from which to plan. My firm has put together simple questionnaire to help you identify your personal preferences and discuss them with members of your team. You can access the questionnaire below:

Aveiro Work Location Self-Assessment: Google Forms, Downloadable Form

The questionnaire will prove most useful if you’re able to get your team fill it out and then meet to discuss responses. It can be a simple way to start a valuable dialogue around work preferences and remote work.

If you think our exercise is overly simplistic, I’d encourage you to think through an approach that works for you and your team. Whatever tool you use, it’s important to be deliberate in your approach to collaboration. If you’re not, even minor differences get magnified and become the basis for communication break downs and inefficiency.

Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments or at info@aveirosc.com!