how can I be a good manager of a remote team?

A reader writes:

Although I have managed project teams for many years, I have only started supervising staff directly in the last few years and am about to begin managing my first fully remote employee.

Any advice on managing a fully remote employee? I’m fine with task management for project teams in different locations, but being someone’s supervisor also includes supporting their professional growth, making sure we as the employer are meeting their needs, addressing problems that may arise, and assigning work to meet chargeability goals. I also want to make sure that this employee stays happy, especially as she grows professionally. And my reports and I are known as a “team” — how do I foster this when one member is remote?

It is long past time for a round-up of posts on being an effective remote manager so here you go!

the basics

how to oversee a remote team’s work

how to manage off-site employees

how to overcome your worries about letting people work remotely

how to stay connected to colleagues when no one works in the same place

how to decide whether to let someone work remotely

do I need to foster relationship-building on my (remote) team?

should I require people to leave their video on during team meetings?

potential problems

how can remote managers address problems they hear about secondhand?

how to know a remote worker has checked out – and what to do about it

is there a way to find out if someone secretly has two full-time jobs?

how do I recover after a remote employee took advantage of my trust?

we need to tell our remote employees they can’t take care of young kids while they’re working

my employee refuses to reveal her online status

should I get rid of remote work because our in-office staff thinks it’s unfair?

some things not to do

my remote boss wants to know every time I go to the bathroom

my bosses want our remote team to work out together 3 times a week

And ultimately, managing well remotely is about doing all the things it takes to manage well on-site too — they just matter even more when you’re remote (as I argue here). So all of this advice for new managers will apply as well:

advice for new managers

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