Managing a Remote Workforce
Two-day Workshop: Available dates coming soon
Format: In-person | Cost: $2,900
This workshop is designed to equip managers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively lead a workforce in the new business environment of more remote workers. We will examine the challenges of maintaining an organizational culture and effective communication in a remote work environment and how systems, policies, and processes can be adapted for this situation with a special focus on the performance management system. We will also explore leadership styles that will help you get the most out of your remote employees. Finally, we will discuss how to optimize your and your employees’ well-being when you or your employees work remotely.
Day 1
Maximizing Team and Organizational Effectiveness with Remote Workers Through an Organization’s Culture
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Instructor: Steve Werner, Ph.D.
Course Description
This course focuses on how leaders of a remote workforce can create, adapt, and maintain an organizational culture through systems, policies, and processes that maximize team and organizational performance. We will explore the challenges of maintaining an organizational culture in a remote environment and how systems can be adapted for this situation. We will examine the benefits and drawbacks of a strong organizational culture and how cultures can be formed, changed, and maintained with a remote workforce. The course also explores how leaders can maximize the effectiveness of virtual teams.
Learning Objectives
- Examine the functions of an organizational culture and its importance.
- Discuss how organizational cultures are formed and how a remote workforce affects the formation.
- Explore the best ways to change and maintain an organizational culture with a remote workforce.
- Analyze the most effective approaches to supporting an organizational culture with human resource management systems of remote workers.
- Understand how organizational culture can affect the performance of virtual teams.
Leading a Remote Workforce
1:30 – 5 p.m.
Instructor: Marina Sebastijanovic, Ph.D.
Course Description
This course focuses on the unique demands leaders face in a remote work environment. While the Coronavirus outbreak resulted in a significant shift toward remote work, this type of work arrangement has been a topic of leadership research long before that. Drawing on findings from research to date, we will uncover why some of the traditional leadership approaches may not be as effective in a remote work environment. We will examine the opportunities and challenges that come with remote work and explore leadership strategies that will help you get the most out of your employees.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze different strategies leaders can use to create a culture of trust and build rapport with their remote employees.
- Discuss how to delegate tasks and responsibilities remotely.
- Explore the most common motivators and de-motivators in a remote work environment.
- Discuss how to build engagement in a remote work environment.
- Examine ways to create and maintain open communication channels with a remote workforce.
- Understand the effects of individual differences in a remote work context.
Day 2
Performance Management of Remote Workers
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Instructor: Steve Werner, Ph.D.
Course Description
This course focuses on how managers can effectively identify, measure, and develop the performance of their remote employees. We will uncover why some of the traditional performance management approaches may not be as effective in a remote environment and how the performance management system can be adapted for this situation. We will examine the process of performance management and explore how having remote employees can require modifications in setting goals, conducting performance appraisals, providing feedback, providing performance based incentives and employee development.
Learning Objectives
- Examine the typical performance appraisal process and its importance.
- Discuss how to set effective goals for remote employees.
- Explore the best ways to measure the performance of remote workers and the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.
- Analyze the most effective approaches to providing feedback to remote workers.
- Examine ways to design the most effective performance-based incentives for a remote workforce.
- Explore how to best provide employee development of remote workers.
Employee Well-Being in a Remote Work Environment
1:30 – 5 p.m.
Instructor: Marina Sebastijanovic, Ph.D.
Course Description
It is widely recognized that remote work has many benefits for employees, including increased flexibility and more control over when and how the work is done. However, both empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that there are some downsides as well, such as social isolation and the need to “always be on.” Through a combination of self-reflective activities and interactive exercises, we will explore the topic of well-being in a remote work environment. We will address both what individuals can do to take charge of their well-being, as well as the role leaders play in creating a balanced remote work environment.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze the psychosocial effects of a remote work environment.
- Understand the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.
- Explore strategies employees can use to build their resilience and cope with stress when working remotely.
- Discuss how leaders can integrate well-being into the workplace culture to create an engaging work environment.