Manage by measuring

Probably the most popular question I hear from managers about working at home is "How will I know my people are working if I don't see them?" To this my answer is always the same: "How do you know they are working now?"

If you are managing only based on the fact that you see someone's smiling face at their desk from 8-5, then you are a bad manager. Yes, I said it. The truth hurts sometimes.

Management should always be based on measurement. You should have a system in place that allows you to set goals and track progress towards those goals. Those goals should be SMART goals and have enough meat to really hold someone accountable for their work. They should focus on delivery, quality, effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and value-add.

I've seen associates do all sorts of things while in visible distance from their leaders. They spend all day on Facebook. They moonlight with a 2nd job. They daydream and wander aimlessly just collecting a paycheck. They may even be trying to do a good job, but may not be competent or need help. If you aren't measuring from multiple viewpoints along the way, you won't catch it until it is too late and you could, in fact, bring yourself down as a result.

So riddle me this - Would you rather

1. See your team members but have no idea if they are really performing, or
2. Never see your team members but have high confidence in their performance based on tangible measurements?

Hopefully you answered #2! If you are truly doing your job as a manager and have a measurement system in place, then physical location becomes inconsequential. 

Walk Away

Everyone talks about a work/life balance. That's not new. But when you work at home, work is life and life is work. Where does one stop and the other start?

People will say that work from home is more productive because people work longer hours. Well, they do. But that's not why it is, or should be, more productive. Just like your office counterpart, you need a break. Burning the work candle at both ends only does one thing - it burns you out.

That's why it is even more important, when working from home, to define boundaries and walk away. There has to be a division for you to be off the clock.

Below are some tips to help build the barrier between work and non-work. Even if you didn't do some of these while you were an office dweller, you need to start now. Your non-work life depends on it.

• Define a space for work that you can walk away from. This should not be your kitchen table, your bed, your sofa, or anywhere else you'd find yourself regularly visiting when you're off the clock.
• Take your lunch break. Use it to do a load of laundry, walk the dog, actually eat something healthy (for a change), work out, run an errand, etc. The point is to take a break from work. This should be a minimum of 30 minutes to allow your brain time to regroup.
• Define your office hours. They may be slightly longer than a traditional 8-5 because you can afford it, but set them and stand by them. When the quitting time bell rings, Fred Flintstone your way out of the office and never look back.
• Resist the temptation to check back in. Unless there is a special occasion, don't run back to your office to check on work just because you can. Use that time for something else. Read a really awesome Leading from Afar blog if you can't find anything else to do.
• Unplug entirely. For at least a few minutes, after you log off for the day, go acoustic. No computer, tablet, phone, TV, radio, or whatever your vice. Just chill, disconnected for a few minutes, to let your entire body move on from work.
• Keep your work and non-work technologies separate. If you use the same devices for both, it's easy and tempting while playing Candy Crush or updating Facebook to do some work too. Remove the temptation all together. 

Work at home has given you the gift of time and money. It's a shame to let it all go to waste because you never stop working. 

Send Cards

When I used to work in a traditional office building, I kept a set of various cards at my desk. If an occasion popped up, I was prepared. And if I didn't have the right card, there was a lobby shop in the building to pick one up for emergencies. It was super easy to leave a card on someone's desk, or use interoffice mail at worst case, to let them know I was thinking about them.

I enjoyed giving cards in the office because it builds engagement. People like to know that you remember them, you think about them, and that you took time to make them feel special. It's an easy gesture that pays big dividends.

Now that I'm at home, I can't just drop off a card at someone's desk. Some of my own staff aren't even in the same city. The logistics have changed. But that doesn't mean the sentiment has to.

The only difference between then and now is preparation, and maybe a few extra pennies. I still have a stash of cards on hand. However, I have to pay attention to upcoming events that I can foresee and drop the cards in the mail. I have to have stamps, I have to have home addresses, and I have to have a head's up. But with those things, I can still accomplish the same.

Actually, I accomplish more. People know it takes more effort to mail. It's no longer something I can run to my office last minute and do. They know I thought even more about them.

The real trick to getting the most value from sending cards is in the message. I never just sent a card. I ALWAYS hand write a personal note. I include messages of thanks for the work they are doing, positive outlooks for the future, and personal sentiments. Handwriting the card shows it came from me, not on assistant or something I copied from the internet. When I screw up a word, it shows I'm human. The personal note is genuine and real.

The following is a direct quote from an associate after receiving her birthday card:
Thank you so much for my birthday card. Seriously it was the absolute cutest birthday card I got this year. Maybe even ever. J It was an unexpected surprise & really made a difference in my day. J I don’t think a boss has ever sent me a card on my birthday & its little stuff like that make me so happy to be a part of this team & its why your team engagement scores are so high. You do a great job as an encourager & leader. J

See how much engagement credit I just scored? It cost me less than $2.00 for the card and stamp, and 5 minutes of time to write a personal message. The return on investment here is huge.

Welcome!

Happy 2015!

My name is Cortney Hoese and I am an IT Manager for a Fortune 100 company. What's unique about that? Maybe not much.

However, I lead my team from my home. I've been working full time from the comfort of my home office for 1.5 years (and part-time for about another year prior), and the majority of my team is remote as well.

The industry is moving this way. Moving to be "location independent". Yet, many other firms (yes, you, Yahoo!) have moved in the opposite direction.

How do you succeed when you work remote? How do you lead a remote team? My goal with this blog is to help you answer these questions based on my real-world experience.

Work at home is not for everyone. But it can be for more people if you know what you are getting into and are willing to put in some extra effort. I hope this blog offers you some tips to make your adventure successful.