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similarities . Just because an employee is sitting in their cubicle in the office doesn ’ t mean they aren ’ t wasting time .
It is easiest to determine if an employee is working , or not , based on their level of productivity . Leadership must work hard to ensure an employee does not have too little or too much work , regardless of where the employee is located . Communication is key to empowering the employee to be as productive as possible . All employees are different ; some may be more productive remotely while others will be less . Accountability is not about spying on employees ; it is about helping them do the best with what they ’ ve got . In a remote environment this does not come as naturally as it does in a traditional setting .
• Employers , you will be held accountable for how well you equip and support your employees whether remote or not .
• Employees , you will be held accountable for doing your best and communicating when you need help .
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There are opportunities to “ lead up ” when working remotely , especially if in a period of transition . Employees should reach out and help employers understand their needs . Depending on who is working remotely ( employer vs employee vs everyone ), leading up can help the entire organization . If working remotely is working well for you , communicate and share with leadership and others what is going well . Also communicate what isn ’ t going well and where you need help . Working remotely must not be done in isolation . Employers and employees have a responsibility to communicate with each other to ensure success . Failure is often a result of applying a one-size-fits-all approach in a vacuum and assuming it will work .
NEXT STEPS
• Check to see if there are any communications outstanding between you and those you lead , or between you and those who lead you . A good way to begin is to simply send an email asking if there are any working
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remotely topics they ’ d like to talk about .
• Ask those you live with if there is any ambiguity or confusion about how to identify if you ’ re working , and what to do when you are working if they have something they ’ d like to talk about .
• Do you have an accurate sense of your leadership ’ s expectations for you while work working remotely ? If you lead others , can they say their understanding of your expectations is accurate ? Begin a conversation !
Author Jonathan Smith is the Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in Lafayette , IN and the President of MBS , Inc . He is an author and frequent conference speaker . You can reach him at jsmith @ faithlafayette . org and follow him on Twitter @ JonathanESmith .
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