How to Manage Remote Work Hours Without Micromanagement

I’ve successfully managed remote teams for 20 years, without micro-managing It's a lot simpler than most people think. Here’s how I do it 👇 I started managing offshore development teams at GE in 2004 Now, my entire team is remote Managing remote teams can be tricky Especially if everyone on the team is performing at different levels One tactic that’s helped me the most. Creating habits! Tiny habits lead to big results. But in a remote world, how do you know everyone practices good habit hygiene? Here’s my system. 1. Set Clear Goals for Everyone ⮑ Make sure each team member knows their targets. ⮑ This helps them stay focused and productive. 2. Use Activity Logs Wisely ⮑ Ask for daily or weekly logs that highlight key tasks completed. ⮑ This provides insight without being invasive. 3. Encourage 15-min Regular Check-ins ⮑ Schedule brief, consistent meetings to discuss progress. ⮑ These touchpoints keep everyone aligned and accountable. 4. Embrace Collaborative Tools ⮑ Use tools like Slack, Gong, Hubspot to track activity. ⮑ This keeps everyone in the loop and eases communication. 5. Celebrate Small Wins ⮑ Acknowledge milestones and achievements regularly. ⮑ This boosts morale and keeps the team motivated. 6. Offer Constructive Feedback ⮑ Provide timely and specific feedback on work completed. ⮑ This helps team members improve and stay on track. 7. Foster a Culture of Trust ⮑ Build trust by being transparent and supportive. ⮑ This creates a positive work environment where everyone thrives. Each week at Miva I hold: -15-minute weekly 1x1s w/ my direct reports -30-minute functional team meetings w/ each GTM function -30-minute GTM all-hands on Friday. During our GTM all-hands, we discuss our activity goals and how we did. We also share learnings and ideas on how to improve. When we do the right reps the results take care of themselves.

THIS measures remote success (not hours) I left “strictly” in office life behind. My secret to remote work is measuring what matters. I'm not focused on: - Counting hours worked - Micromanaging tasks - Stressing over attendance - Following old metrics Instead: - I set clear goals - I value outcomes - I trust my team - I use the right tools - I encourage feedback It pays to measure productivity differently. What truly drives success in remote teams? When you shift your focus, it opens new possibilities. A path towards a results-oriented culture. Are you still stuck in outdated methods? Or ready to embrace a new approach? Key Strategies to Measure Productivity 1. Set Clear Goals and KPIs - Define SMART goals for everyone. - Align with the company's vision. - Use KPIs that fit remote work. 2. Focus on Output Over Hours - Measure what gets done, not time spent. - Look at task completion and quality. - Gather client and peer feedback. 3. Utilize Project Management Tools - Tools like Asana and Trello keep teams on track. - They help monitor progress without hovering. - Increase visibility and accountability. 4. Emphasize Quality of Work - Quality matters more than quantity. - Use feedback to assess deliverables. - High-quality work shows true productivity. 5. Encourage a Results-Oriented Culture - Shift focus from activity to results. - Trust your team to manage their time. - Regular check-ins keep everyone aligned. 6. Leverage Time Tracking Tools Thoughtfully - Use tools like Toggl to track time wisely. - Avoid being intrusive; build trust instead. - Balance monitoring with employee morale. 7. Break Down Tasks into Milestones - Divide projects into smaller tasks. - Set clear deadlines for each milestone. - Celebrate small wins to boost motivation. 8. Collect Feedback Through Surveys - Use surveys to understand team challenges. - Anonymous feedback encourages honesty. - Identify barriers to boost productivity. Best Practices for Implementation Build Trust and Transparency - Communicate expectations clearly. - Avoid surveillance that harms morale. Regularly Review Metrics - Monitor performance data often. - Adjust strategies based on trends. Tailor Metrics to Roles - Customize metrics for different jobs. - Focus on what matters for each role. Focus on results. Use technology wisely. Build trust. Then you can you can measure productivity effectively. Which ultimately leads to a thriving remote work environment. What are you thoughts about this?

BOUNDARIES ARE CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS WITH SANITY & WITHOUT BURNOUT   I’ve spent an exorbitant amount of time with my extended family over the past few weeks. My son’s musical, followed by my nephew’s graduation & both my parents’ birthday brought us all together much more than normal.   If your family is like mine, close quarters require boundaries to keep the peace.   The same is true in professional settings.   Some people say their company is like their family, if that’s true for you, let’s make sure it’s not a dysfunctional one.   Having strong boundaries is critical, because like fences, they define where we end & others begin. They safeguard our well-being while respecting the space & autonomy of those around us.   Here’s how to create HIGH PERFORMANCE BOUNDARIES:   🎯 IDENTIFY YOUR BOUNDARIES: What’s important to you? What are your non-negotiable values & priorities? What makes you feel empowered? What makes you feel uneasy?   🎯 DETERMINE WHAT TOPICS & BEHAVIORS ARE OFF LIMITS: Some people are happy to share about their lives outside of work & others prefer more privacy. You have to determine what you feel comfortable with sharing & listening too.   🎯 RESPECT HR GUIDELINES: I know, the vast majority of people have an unfavorable view of “HR”, but HR exists to protect you & your company by creating boundaries via guidelines. Follow them & make your life easier.   🎯 SET CLEAR PARAMETERS: Define specific boundaries beyond topics, such as not answering emails after 7 PM or keeping weekends work-free.   🎯 COMMUNICATE PROACTIVELY: You train people how to treat you. Discuss your boundaries using “I” statements to explain your needs without sounding defensive.   🎯 TALK LESS, LISTEN MORE: Most misunderstandings & confrontations are based on assumptions. Instead of making assumptions, listen to what the person speaking is actually saying to you.   🎯 USE TECHNOLOGY WISELY: Safeguard boundaries with automatic replies for after-hours & weekend emails. Schedule “do not disturb” periods for uninterrupted focus and communicate these with colleagues clearly.   🎯 DON’T LET THE FALSE URGENCY OF PEOPLE’S REQUESTS DERAIL YOUR FOCUS: Well meaning people often believe their priorities should be yours. Learn to complete your priorities, then respond to theirs with reasonable timelines. A great question to ask is, "Is this a firm deadline or a suggested timeframe?”   🎯 SAY NO AS NEEDED: In personal settings, “NO” is a complete sentence; yet, in professional settings, you may need a simple explanation attached to your declination.   Boundaries are protective & empowering tools for achieving success.   I invite you to take a few minutes today to reconsider the role boundaries play in your life then redefine them as needed to thrive.   I’m curious, of the strategies listed above…   👉Which is the most important to you? #personaldevelopment #business #success

On days filled with zoom calls (or finding ways to be productive in an interruption filled world). The biggest change in my life since COVID has been zoom calls. Where before I had three calls a week, now I have some weeks with 30. What started as a temporary phenomenon, has become a permanent fixture in my life - with collaborators demanding regular meetings - even when there is nothing to meet about. While I appreciate (and even enjoy) seeing my teams, the constant interruptions make it hard to actually get work done. So what to do? First, protect your time. Don’t agree to every call. Agree to calls when work has advanced enough to talk about what is next. Or. Agree to calls to breakthrough bottlenecks. Second, structure your time. I block out two hours a day for writing. I block out one hour a day for letting my mind rest. I block out two afternoons a week to write. I find it easy to say no to meetings during my write or rest times - if they are on my calendar. Third, I don’t label important writing time in my calendar. I find people schedule meetings during writing time - if they can see your calendar. They don’t if you say - doctor, dentist, or mechanic appointment. It’s a bit sneaky - but if I have a deadline - I’m a bit sneaky about protecting my time. Fourth, don’t request many calls. I find that if I ask for a call, I am giving people permission to ask me to be on a call. Unless 💯 needed, I try to limit the number of calls I ask for, emails I send, and texts that go out. The less I ask for, the fewer interruptions I have, the more able I am to get things done. Finally, consolidate calls and communication into blocks. I try to take calls in the morning - that frees afternoon and night to write. I also schedule emails to go out at certain times of day - that way I don’t have to respond to a dozen unpredictable requests throughout my day - as most people respond within the next hour or so. If you protect your time, aggressively manage your schedule, and take control of when you meet or communicate, you will have fewer days where you ‘take all day to accomplish nothing!’ Best of luck! #timemanagement #academiclife

I used to spend my days like this: 10:45 am: Flow into a deep work zone 11:30 am: Stop writing to prepare for a “quick” project check-in 12:00 pm: Join a meeting to exchange updates that could’ve been an email 12:45 pm: Try to find my rhythm again …and repeat across several clients. This was unsustainable as a solo business owner— Content quality suffered and deadlines stretched. Then, I implemented a new rule that significantly improved client relationships: No meetings unless absolutely necessary. We start with a thorough onboarding session. After that, we shift to… - Quick updates through Slack - Detailed discussions via email - Project tracking in Trello (my personal favorite) Here’s what this looks like in practice: - I maintain my deep work zones - No one scrambles to prepare for meetings - Projects move smoothly with async communication - Everyone responds at their earliest convenience - You get higher quality content and faster turnarounds A huge myth about remote work is, "you need regular catch-ups to stay aligned." But really, you just need a communication system that works for both sides. This is how I've built my entire business... ...and it's worked out pretty well the past 2 years. → sharewrites.com