lead from a distance

Lead from a Distance

Http://www.power-hour.co.uk – Bite Size Training Materials


http://www.power-hour.co.uk/


Http://www.power-hour.co.uk – Bite Size Training MaterialsHttp://www.power-hour.co.uk – Bite Size Training Materials 2014

By the end of the Power Hour you will be able to:• Identify the challenges that a distance leader must

overcome.• Describe the qualities and competences of a good

distance leader.• Discuss the tools available to you to

help you to lead a remote team successfully





Challenges for Remote Leaders• Location• Isolation• Culture• Trust





Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda





What Great Leaders-from-a-distance Do

Inspire the Team

Be a Leader of Leaders

Focus on results, not process

Serve the team, not yourself

Build a sense of identity

Develop relationships

Maintain a constant flow of information

Coach people to achieve their potential

Use technology wisely

Build trust





The Skills of Remote Leadership

Good Remote Leader

Effective communication

Build trust

Developing team identity/ relationships

Harnessing the different strengths of

the team

Monitoring performance and

Celebrating success

Using technology well





Effective CommunicationSome suggestions for good communication:• Hold regular team meetings• Send out ‘information’ emails to everyone in the team• Make time to meet everyone face-to-face• Use teleconference facilities and internet tools• Communicate equally with each team member• Find out communication preferences of each team member• Listen to team members and take on board their ideas• Take and circulate accurate minutes soon after meetings • Be explicit and specific – often you will be communicating on the

phone, and people cannot ‘see’ that you are busy for example





Building TrustSome suggestions for building trust: • Be open and honest with people• Give your trust first – people strive to prove you right• Abide by your own rules• Be fair, and be seen to be fair. Treat everyone the same.• Do what you say you will do – keep your promises• Manage expectations• Be consistent in your approach• Be accessible and responsive• Maintain confidences





Develop Team IdentitySome suggestions for building team identity:• Hold meetings• Rotate the ‘chair’ of meetings• Set up a ‘virtual’ meeting room• Allow ‘in-team’ language and jokes• Meet in different places• Organise social occasions• Arrange for team members to work in 2s or 3s on tasks• Reward team achievements above all else





Harness the Strengths of the Team

Some suggestions for harnessing the strengths of the team:• Get to know each team member• Have regular 1-1s• Recognise strengths and develop them• Discover personal preferences• Encourage colleagues to highlight skills in each other• Look for opportunities to delegate• Ask for volunteers• Acknowledge that different people can support the team in

different ways





Monitor PerformanceSome suggestions for monitoring performance:• Encourage people to set their own goals• Make sure that objectives are SMART• Collate factual information regularly and via systems where possible• Encourage feedback between team members• Talk to people about their performance – what has gone well/not so

well• Ask people to assess their own performance• Use multiple sources of evidence• Use common language to allow people to talk openly about their

performance with colleagues





Celebrate SuccessSome suggestions for celebrating success:• Give small prizes for specific achievements• Have a ‘team member of the month’ award• Give recognition/recommendation to higher authority• Offer first choice of interesting tasks/location of

meeting/meal out• Personal mention in internal newsletters or on blogs/message

boards• ‘Nominate a Colleague’ scheme for excellent work





Using Technology• Email• Telephone• Teleconferences/Skype/

Videoconferencing• Meetings• The Internet• Social Media





Make it Work at Work

What are you going to DO as a result of

this Power Hour Session?





Thank YouThese slides have been produced as an optional

resource to support an interactive Bite-Size Training session on this subject.

A full set of materials, including detailed Session Leader’s Guide, Delegate Workbook and supporting activities can be purchased from our Training Shop

Our Training materials are licence-free, but are for use by the purchaser an d their organisation only.

They CANNOT be passed or sold on.



http://www.power-hour.co.uk/trainingmaterialsshop/cat_440082-Power-Hour-Bite-Size-Training-Sessions.html

lead from a distance

Leadership & Management