In this episode we talked with author Liam Martin and discussed the top 5 most important things that a leader needs to do to leverage being remote to improve engagement and performance.
Liam is a serial entrepreneur who runs Time Doctor and Staff.com — one of the most popular time tracking and productivity software platforms in use by top brands today. He is also a co-organizer of the world’s largest remote work conference — Running Remote.
Liam is an avid proponent of remote work and has been published in Forbes, Inc, Mashable, TechCrunch, Fast Company, and many other publications specifically targeting the expansion of remote work.
Liam has also co-authored a book – Running Remote: Master the Lessons from the World’s Most Successful Remote-Work Pioneers
Join us as we discuss with Liam how to leverage being remote to improve engagement and performance. Learn the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication and how Liam uses asynchronous communication with remote workforces. Hear how Liam’s team uses a democratized system to innovate, improve, and implement processes. Hear Liam’s insights on why managers need to remove barriers to focus for their team members and how oftentimes one of those barriers can be the managers themselves.
Here is a link to Liam’s website:
https://runningremote.com/
Here is a link to Liam’s upcoming book:
Running Remote: Master the Lessons from the World’s Most Successful Remote-Work Pioneers
Here is a link if you want to Connect With Liam on LinkedIn:
Liam’s Linkedin Profile
Liam’s Top 5
1. Asynchronous work
“A comparison I like to use to demonstrate the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication is broadcast television and Netflix. Before Netflix, when you watched a show on television you had to watch a show as it was aired or you would miss it until it aired as a rerun a year later, that’s synchronous communication. Asynchronous communication is Netflix, it allows for people to be uninterrupted and consume information when they choose.” – Liam Martin
2. Democratized processes
“We have created a system where if you have a new process, and you want to implement that process; then you can absolutely do it with no problem whatsoever as long as everyone agrees with you, and we even pay-out on the creation of those new processes. It’s a self-organic process where if you build a new process, you are monetarily rewarded for creating the process and we find our employees love that.” – Liam Martin
3. Remote autonomy
“Having workers free to be able to choose their own paths. I generally tell my own staff ‘don’t ask me what to do, tell me what you did.’ That’s a really important insight to ensure you are on the right path to remote work.” – Liam Martin
4. Make the platform the manager and not the individual
“The thing I tell people is ‘your job as a manager is to be able to remove barriers to focus from your direct reports, and unfortunately you are more than likely the biggest barrier to their focus,’ so by getting yourself out of their way and allowing them to collaborate with you when it is most opportunistic for them, you speed up the organization instead of trying to speed up yourself.” – Liam Martin
5. Rise of introverted leader
With asynchronous communication, introverted leaders will thrive because the systems of communication fit their natural tendencies and communication styles.
