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By The Kevin Eikenberry Group
5
88 ratings
The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.
Wayne Turmel sits down with Sara Daw, of The CFO Centre, to explore the nuances of remote and hybrid work from a C-Suite perspective. As a leader of a fully remote global company operating across 17 countries, Sara shares invaluable insights into overcoming challenges, fostering psychological ownership, and building meaningful relationships in distributed teams.
Sara also shares her experience leading a remote-first organization and her thoughts on how trust and flexibility can transform the workplace. Don't miss her practical advice on designing team dynamics and crafting jobs that employees love.
Key Takeaways1. Navigate Financial Resistance to Remote Work: Learn how to address common concerns from funders and stakeholders about hybrid and remote work models, with actionable tips on demonstrating ROI and productivity. 2. Empower Teams with Job Crafting: Discover how giving employees the freedom to design aspects of their roles can boost engagement, flexibility, and accountability within remote teams. 3. Redefine Hybrid Work: Understand why a “one-size-fits-all” approach to hybrid work doesn’t work, and how to tailor policies to meet team and individual needs effectively. 4. Build Intentional Relationships in Remote Teams: Get practical advice on creating meaningful team connections, from scheduling regular in-person meetups to designing engaging virtual activities. 5. Foster Psychological Ownership: Explore how co-creation, clear communication, and shared goals can increase employee loyalty and investment in their roles—even in a fully remote environment. 6. Set Clear Boundaries for Availability: Master the art of balancing responsiveness with structured availability to maintain productivity and team trust in remote settings.
Timestamps00:00 Introduction 02:04 Challenges and Misconceptions of Remote Work in the C-Suite 05:37 The Importance of Flexibility in Hybrid Work 08:20 Concept of Job Crafting 10:36 Challenges of Leading a Remote Team 14:24 The Need for Physical Gatherings 17:20 Building Psychological Ownership in Remote Teams 19:35 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Related EpisodesJoin us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Your Hosts
Wayne Turmel: Master Trainer and Coach for The Kevin Eikenberry Group, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere, and trainer of remote teams for over twenty years. Read More...
Subscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
In this episode of Long-Distance Worklife, co-hosts Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel discuss "the great mismatch" between organizations and remote workers when it comes to returning to the office. They explain that while there has always been a mismatch in expectations, the pandemic has highlighted the need for flexibility and understanding from both sides. They suggest that organizations need to understand their employees' needs before implementing return to office policies, rather than relying on perks like foosball tables or bring-your-dog-to-work day. Listeners will gain insight into how to navigate this great mismatch and create a successful hybrid work environment.
Key Takeaways00:00:00 Podcast Episode: Return To Office And Remote Work Challenges 00:01:40 Unexpected Resistance to Return to Office 00:03:17 The Great Mismatch Between Employers and Employees 00:08:02 Corporate Mandates For In-person Work Are Ineffective 00:09:11 Benefits of Hybrid Working Arrangements 00:14:02 Pilot Over Policy for Return to Office 00:15:59 Strategies For Leaders: Overcoming Objections To Returning To Office 00:18:07 Summary: Returning to Office After Working Remotely
Related EpisodesWant us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
View full show notes and transcripts: https://longdistanceworklife.com/the-great-mismatch-why-returning-to-the-office-is-not-as-easy-as-we-thought/
Wayne Turmel welcomes Sri Ganesan, co-founder and CEO of Rocketlane, for a deep dive into the challenges and innovations in remote project management. They discuss the complexities of client-facing projects, why traditional tools often fail remote teams, and how Rocketlane aims to centralize and streamline project delivery to create transparency and trust. Sri shares insights on the importance of proactive systems over "hero" managers, the evolving role of project management without dedicated PMs, and how AI is shaping the future of project oversight. Tune in for practical tips on building client trust, setting expectations, and fostering effective collaboration in a dispersed environment.
Key Takeaways1. Solving the Silo Problem: Remote project teams often suffer from information silos due to multiple tools. Rocketlane addresses this by providing a centralized platform for project and customer collaboration. 2. Transparency Builds Trust: Sri highlights the importance of transparency in client-facing projects, noting how regular status updates and customer-facing insights can reduce anxiety and foster trust. 3. From Hero to System: Great project management shouldn’t rely on heroic efforts. Instead, robust systems should proactively surface potential risks and keep projects on track without constant manual oversight. 4. Adapting Project Management: Many remote projects lack dedicated PMs, making it crucial for tools to fill this gap by guiding governance and best practices. 5. AI in Project Management: Sri encourages teams to start experimenting with AI to identify project risks early and improve efficiency in team workflows.
Timestamps00:00 Welcome to Long-Distance Worklife 00:36 Introduction to Rocketlane 02:09 The Problems with Current Project Tools 04:00 Challenges in Remote Project Management 06:11 Adapting PM Standards for Remote Work 08:32 Dual Roles in Project Management 10:07 Building Trust with Client Projects 12:18 Moving from Heroic to System-Driven PM 13:16 Gauging Client Sentiment Remotely 15:20 Managing Global Teams and Expectations 18:10 Proactive Project Management Techniques 20:47 The Role of AI in Project Management 22:41 Final Thoughts and Resources 23:48 Closing Remarks
Related EpisodesSubscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Your Hosts
Wayne Turmel: Master Trainer and Coach for The Kevin Eikenberry Group, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere, and trainer of remote teams for over twenty years. Read More...
Marisa Eikenberry: Web developer, podcast editor, and technology support specialist for The Kevin Eikenberry Group. Has worked on a hybrid team for over 9 years. Read more...
Join us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry dive into a topic often overlooked—natural disasters and how they impact remote and hybrid work environments. As hurricanes, blizzards, and wildfires increase, so does the need for effective business continuity plans. Wayne and Marisa discuss real-world stories and provide insights on how companies can balance employee safety with the need for operational continuity. They cover essential strategies like communication protocols, cloud-based backups, risk assessment, and creating an emergency contact directory, offering practical advice to help remote teams stay connected and productive during crises.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why Disaster Preparedness Matters 02:01 The High Cost of Delayed Evacuation 04:07 Ensuring Data Accessibility for Remote Teams 08:33 Building a Team Directory and Backup Contacts 12:00 Offering Employees Grace During Crises 15:00 Trust in Remote Employees During Disasters 19:02 Wrap-Up: The Importance of Proactive Disaster Planning
Subscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Your Hosts
Wayne Turmel: Master Trainer and Coach for The Kevin Eikenberry Group, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere, and trainer of remote teams for over twenty years. Read More...
Marisa Eikenberry: Web developer, podcast editor, and technology support specialist for The Kevin Eikenberry Group. Has worked on a hybrid team for over 9 years. Read more...
Join us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
Alan Whitman, CEO at Baker Tilly, joins Wayne to discuss what happens when you allow tax accountants (and other professional services) to be innovative in the world of remote work. They discuss some of the things that his company has had to change and adapt to in order to continue growing the company.
Featured GuestName: Alan Whitman
What He Does: CEO at Baker Tilly US and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Baker Tilly International
Notable: Named CEO and chairman of the board of partners in 2016, Whitman previously led the firm’s Michigan market and developed the organization’s robust international services practice. He joined Baker Tilly in 2003, having spent 15 years with another national CPA firm where he led the middle-market tax practice.
Additional ResourcesWant us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
See the full show notes and transcript: https://longdistanceworklife.com/what-happens-when-tax-accountants-embrace-innovation-with-alan-whitman/
Join us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Subscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
🎙 Big News for Remote Leaders!
The new edition of The Long-Distance Leader is coming to Audible on October 29! This audio edition includes the latest research and all-new strategies for thriving in remote and hybrid leadership. If you’re a fan of learning on the go, you won’t want to miss it.
Preorder your copy now at longdistanceworklife.com/audible, and thank you for your commitment to building a remarkable remote leadership experience!
In this episode of Long-Distance Worklife, Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel tackle the hot-button issue of Amazon’s recent return-to-office mandate and what it means for the future of remote work. Amazon’s decision to require employees to come back to the office—and its ultimatum of “come back or find a new job”—has sparked conversations about whether this marks the end of the remote work era.
Marisa and Wayne dive into the reasons behind Amazon’s push for office attendance, from massive real estate investments to a company culture driven by performance. They also explore the broader implications for other companies, the financial and cultural challenges that come with hybrid work, and how employees worldwide, like those at Ubisoft in France, are pushing back against such mandates.
Key Takeaways:
Timestamps
0:00 Intro 1:00 Amazon’s Return-to-Office Policy Explained 3:20 Why Some Companies Are Going Back to the Office 5:30 Real Estate and CEO Ego: What’s Really Driving the Mandates 10:00 Global Pushback: Ubisoft and Strikes Over Office Returns 13:00 Is Remote Work Really Going Away? 16:00 What Does This Mean for Employers and Employees? 18:30 Remote Work Isn’t Dead Yet: Final Thoughts
Related EpisodesWayne Turmel: Master Trainer and Coach for The Kevin Eikenberry Group, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere, and trainer of remote teams for over twenty years. Read More...
Marisa Eikenberry: Web developer, podcast editor, and technology support specialist for The Kevin Eikenberry Group. Has worked on a hybrid team for over 9 years. Read more...
Subscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
Wayne Turmel is joined by Sam Rosen, the founder of Deskpass, to explore how the office landscape has changed in recent years. Sam shares his journey from opening one of Chicago’s first co-working spaces to developing tools that connect companies and remote workers with flexible workspaces. They discuss the evolving role of offices, how companies can make strategic real estate decisions, and the benefits of offering co-working options to remote and hybrid teams. Sam also dives into the differences between designing workspaces with a human-centered approach versus the traditional real estate mindset. Tune in to discover how you can leverage flexible spaces to improve productivity and retain top talent.
Key TakeawaysName: Sam Rosen
Bio: Sam Rosen is the co-founder and CEO of Deskpass, an online marketplace connecting teams and individuals to thousands of coworking spaces and conference rooms across the country. A creative problem solver, Sam's passion for coworking began with co-founding The Coop, Chicago’s first coworking space, and he has since become a recognized entrepreneur and voice in the design community. Prior to Deskpass, he co-founded The Post Family art collaborative and One Design Company, a digital branding agency that blends research, communication, and design for top brands.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammyrosen/
https://www.deskpass.com/
Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Sam Rosen and Deskpass 01:03 Sam’s Background in Co-Working and Design 02:05 The Evolution of Office Spaces and Remote Work 03:19 Design vs. Real Estate: What’s the Difference? 04:51 Advantages of Co-Working Spaces 07:09 How to Use Deskpass for Remote Work Travel 08:17 Making Flexible Workspaces Work for Your Company 10:00 Real-Life Examples of Deskpass in Action 13:15 Keeping Culture Alive in Remote Teams 17:19 Deciding When to Meet In Person 19:08 Conclusion and Resources
Related EpisodesSubscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Join us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry tackle the challenge of proximity bias and its impact on coaching in remote and hybrid teams. Proximity bias, where leaders give preferential treatment to those physically closer, can skew coaching opportunities and development. Wayne and Marisa discuss how to overcome this bias and ensure remote team members receive equal attention and guidance. You’ll also learn practical tips on how to leverage technology, such as Zoom, Slack, and Teams, to create more effective and meaningful coaching experiences.
Key Takeaways00:00 Intro 00:27 What is Proximity Bias? 01:35 How Proximity Bias Affects Coaching 03:11 Differences Between In-Person and Remote Coaching 05:14 Signs of Proximity Bias in One-on-Ones 07:45 Using Technology to Enhance Remote Coaching 09:48 Creating a Level Playing Field with Remote Tools 10:48 Coaching Conversations: Feedback and Emotional Dynamics 12:22 The Importance of Trust in Coaching 14:05 How to Start a Good Coaching Conversation 17:49 Final Thoughts on Hybrid Coaching 18:25 Long-Distance Leader Book Promotion 18:56 Outro
Related EpisodesSubscribe to Long-Distance Worklife wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdistanceworklife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P22kW5iaX8zU3B0-HVCUA Website: https://longdistanceworklife.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longdistanceworklife
Join us for a powerful, 4-part video series titled, Demystifying Remote Leadership. You will learn how to create solid working relationships in a virtual team with more confidence and less stress! Sign up: https://longdistanceworklife.com/video
Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!
Wayne Turmel sits down with Dan O'Connell, co-founder of BrandLab360, to explore the innovative world of virtual workplaces and how they are reshaping remote work. Dan shares insights into their platform, Virtual HQ, and how it allows teams to collaborate in immersive, 3D environments without the need for VR headsets. They discuss the evolution of remote work tools, the advantages of avatar-based interactions, and the gamification of work to keep employees engaged. Wayne and Dan also dive into the psychological benefits of these virtual spaces and how they compare to traditional video calls like Zoom and Teams.
Key Takeaways0:00 Introduction to Dan O'Connell and Virtual HQ 2:00 How Virtual HQ is Different from Zoom and Teams 4:45 The Importance of Human Relationships in Virtual Spaces 7:30 Gamification and Fun in Remote Work 10:30 Why Avatar-Based Meetings are More Engaging 14:00 Overcoming Tech Barriers for Virtual Workspaces 17:00 Features to Look for in a Virtual Office Platform 20:00 Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More
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