Editor’s Notice: Every week Maynard Webb, former CEO of LiveOps and the previous COO of eBay, will supply candid, sensible, and typically shocking recommendation to entrepreneurs and founders. To submit a query, write to Webb at dearfounder@fastcompany.com.
Q. We now have a small group. Somebody is on an prolonged depart of absence and one other particular person is taking a protracted journey and dealing remotely. How can we make sure that we maintain all the pieces going with no balls being dropped?
-Normal Accomplice at a profitable boutique agency
Expensive Normal Accomplice,
We dwell in a brand new world of labor the place persons are working from everywhere in the globe and we’re having to span completely different time zones and collaborating with out being in the identical workplace. I’ve lengthy been a fan of getting folks working from anyplace, so I consider there are methods to handle this successfully. Sure, will probably be riskier than regular, and maybe out of your consolation zone, however maintaining all the pieces going efficiently is achievable. Moreover, what issues is outcomes, not face time.
One of the best strategy right here is to plan for all the pieces—take into account what is going on now and anticipate what is going to occur subsequent. In different phrases: over plan. Consider each contingency and have a sport plan for all. That begins with having visibility into the present workload, in addition to seeing what’s coming as a lot as you possibly can.
Subsequent, over talk. It’s essential to have open traces of communication and frequent test ins. Be ready to attach greater than in case you have been in the identical bodily area. Usually dropped balls will not be issues that weren’t performed however issues that weren’t communicated. That is straightforward to unravel for—talk greater than you suppose mandatory.
Be prepared to regulate. Assume forward of time about what success appears like and what you’ll do in case you are not assembly your calls for. How will you reconcile if it isn’t working? What steps can you’re taking to place issues again on observe? What’s the time-frame for this depart and journey? Is it finite or indefinite? It’s useful to know precisely what you’re dealing with so you possibly can course right as mandatory. It seems that this isn’t a without end factor, which suggests is will quickly be in your rear-view mirror. Take the learnings and classes for subsequent time.
Plan for success. Have good intentions about the place this goes. A constructive angle helps unleash extra creativity in fixing points and fosters extra grace via the inevitable bumps alongside the way in which.
Making this work comes right down to planning and speaking and having empathy on all sides. It’s additionally all about persistence and belief. I consider this expertise will construct belief by permitting folks to work how they need and seeing how a lot you possibly can nonetheless accomplish. I hope that you’ll be reminded that the group is wonderful and resilient, and you’ll efficiently navigate this new scenario. And if not, having a plan to regulate can be certain that it is possible for you to to remain the course.
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