HBR Guide to Remote Work

CHAPTER 6

Working Smoothly with a Virtual Boss

by Keith Ferrazzi

The realities of doing business today often require that employees and their managers work from different locations. When you’re not colocated with your boss—especially if you’re separated by large distances and time zones—a different set of considerations comes into play, since you’ll never casually run into each other in the office hallway or by the watercooler. This was true long before the pandemic set in, and its lessons remain: You’ve got to change your approach in order to work with and adapt to the realities of having a virtual boss.

Here’s the good news: As long as you and your manager can develop trust, keep the communication channels open, and establish clear lines of ...