Remote Collaboration – Harvard Business Review

Why Remote Work Thrives in Some Companies and Fails in Others →

An excellent article on anywhere work collaboration from the HBR.

Highlights:

The Office of Personnel Management reports that remote work has increased job satisfaction, reduced employee turnover, and cut costs on several fronts, including real estate, utilities, and travel subsidies.

Many companies focus too much on technology and not enough on process. This is akin to trying to fix a sports team’s performance by buying better equipment.

Successful remote work is based on three core principles: communication, coordination, and culture.

The HBR goes on to explain these principles in greater detail.

A close reading of the article is well worth it. The main challenges of remote collaboration are no longer technical issues; they centre around processes and group dynamics.

Effective teams have a clear mission, are excellent at communicating, and understanding the subtle behavioural differences required by physical distance.

Teams that address these factors are equipped to solve complex problems anywhere.