Dear Sophaya, I have a supervisor who gets angry. Like really angry. Yes, we work in a higher-stress environment, so I get that he has a lot to worry about and deal with, but when he gets upset, it’s scary, and it makes it difficult for me to work with him in an effective way.… Read more »

Dear Sophaya, I’ve been a manager of remote employees for a while now, and I’m ready to initiate some systems now that I’ve really got a handle on how things flow in my agency. We’re going to be hiring a large group of remote employees in the next few months, and I’d like to create… Read more »

Dear Sophaya,  It’s the holiday season and my entire company is in a jolly mood. Which is great, except for the fact that it also means that all of my employees are hoping to take time off of work. I’m not new to this management thing–I’ve managed in-house employees in the past–so I know how… Read more »

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”-Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in The Godfather III (1990) Most of us have been working remotely for what seems like eons. It’s actually closer to ten weeks, but who’s counting? Ten weeks is long enough to rearrange schedules, alter bedtimes, divide the household labor,… Read more »

It’s an all-too-familiar scene: You’re leading your remote team through a major project–and you’re worried they’re losing steam. Maybe you’re preparing for a flip-the-switch rebranding project that requires lots of layers of review. Maybe it’s annual report season, and changing conditions have forced production out another month. Whatever the project, it’s high stress and high… Read more »

RNI, the Remote Nation Institute, is holding a series of half-hour webinars to help you help your employees work remotely, efficiently, and happily. As part of these learnings, we offer tips, based on years of remote work experience. Every day, we’ll give you one concrete action you can take with your team to keep your people focused… Read more »

There’s so much happening when you conduct an interview with a job candidate. You’re trying to make them feel welcome and at ease in a moment when they’re likely feeling nervous. You’re trying to get to know a total stranger’s personality and job history, and to understand their strengths and weaknesses. You’re trying to imagine… Read more »

When you work remotely, it’s important to stay top of mind. A great way to do that is to let people know when they’re doing a good job. And, let their bosses know. It will help you build a stronger team while increasing your visibility.

You want your remote team to be productive, but you also want them to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled. In an earlier post, I talked about creating a virtual water cooler for your remote employees, so they get a chance to interact with you and each other about something other than work. When you worked… Read more »

I’ve worked remotely for a long time, but some of my extended team are new to it. We did a little exercise, based on our water cooler ideas, to lighten things up and boost morale in this stressful time. I went around to the members of my team and asked each person to tell me… Read more »

RNI, the Remote Nation Institute, is holding a series of half-hour webinars to help you help your employees work remotely, efficiently, and happily. As part of these learnings, we offer tips, based on years of remote work experience. Every day, we’ll give you one concrete action you can take with your team to keep your people focused… Read more »

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”-Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in The Godfather III (1990) Most of us have been working remotely for what seems like eons. It’s actually closer to ten weeks, but who’s counting? Ten weeks is long enough to rearrange schedules, alter bedtimes, divide the household labor,… Read more »