Managing Teams in the Hybrid Age: The HBR Guides Collection (8 Books)

CHAPTER 19

How to Manage Remote Direct Reports

by Rebecca Knight

Geographically dispersed teams are increasingly common in the modern workplace. Perhaps you’re based in your company’s New York headquarters, your team works in Los Angeles, and you also manage a group of developers in Minsk. Or maybe your entire team works remotely. How do you overcome the challenges of supervising employees in different locations and time zones? What steps should you take to build trust and open lines of communication? How should you establish routines? And how do you help remote workers feel part of a team?

What the Experts Say

One of the biggest misconceptions about managing remote workers is that it requires an entirely different skill set. “We have a tendency ...