Leading and Managing Remotely

Remote working has become a normal part of how we do things at the UoL, just as hybrid working is likely to become in the future. This is a big change for many and these resources should help with how to lead and manage remote working, how to create online content, and how to build and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Resources

• Managers and Leaders Toolkit - Managing remote working
• Remote Working LinkedIn Learning Collection
• Remote Working and Trust - The Learning Curve (podcast) - Episode 2 - What Makes a Great Leader with Chris Burchell
• See Hybrid Working - Our ways of working
• See OD&PL Managing Remote Working SWAY
• Consider Stepping off the hamster wheel
• Wellbeing and resilience resources
• https://storyals.com/blog/communicate-like-pro-using-microsoft-teams from TIPS community

Tips on leading and managing remotely

Top Tips that have come out of our managing/working remotely surgery sessions:

1. Be active outside work; exercise, dog walking.
2. Keep a demarcation between work and home; lunch breaks, focus on home activities.
3. For some people setting standards working hours and times helps.
4. Have regular social check-ins, huddles (5/10 minutes).
5. Take a proactive approach to seeing new faces; attend surgeries, workshops, walk new routes.
6. Give full attention (eg, lean in online to show listening).
7. Get to know the platforms/tools you are using (eg, Teams, Minerva, etc).
8. Use the Universities Digital Practice site, and the TIPS community (Teaching, Innovation and Practice in Student education).
9. Coping with silence (allowing time for reflection, especially online).
10. Follow up issues in one-to-ones.
11. Pin top communicators in Chat function in Teams, and keep the Chat function light-hearted.
12. Set up Team Channels for non-work related aspects; Pets at Home, Cooking, Whatever.
13. Expectations (can they be the same online?)
14. Push back, bit by bit, to realign expectations.
15. Be open and transparent if there is a need for shifting expectations.
16. For some people having a to do list helps keep things on track.
17. Take time to consider what brings joy.
18. Consider the purpose of your meetings, and who really needs to be there.
19. Schedule 1 hr meeting for 50 minutes (to ensure breaks between each).
20. Phone people rather than email.
21. Ask and listen.
22. Use 'aha' and 'appreciation' approach, or 'thank you' and 'gratitude' to set a listening, positive tone for the meeting.
23. Share your struggles and successes.
24. Develop an attitude of acceptance, appreciation of the small pleasures, gratitude, and mindfulness in the here and now.

When new members of the team start:

1. Have informal Chat messaging to help with a sense of belonging.
2. Prepare for practical issues; IT, knowledge gaps, not knowing the right people.
3. Invite to a range of meetings to help connections and fill knowledge gaps.
4. Share screen to talk through new work, processes, tasks.
5. Develop some 'How to' videos for reference.