Long-Distance Worklife - A Hybrid & Remote Work Podcast

Wayne speaks with Suzanne Lucas (better known as Evil HR Lady) about how remote work has changed the world of Human Resources. They discuss what issues arose that no one expected, how conversations that used to be private in the office are no longer private in a remote environment, and why hybrid is Suzanne's favorite way to work.

• Learn more about Suzanne Lucas
• Connect with Suzanne Lucas on LinkedIn
• Join the Evil HR Lady Facebook Group
• Follow Suzanne Lucas on Twitter
• Learn more about Wayne Turmel
• Email Wayne Turmel
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Leader
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Teammate
• The Remote Leadership Institute
• The Kevin Eikenberry Group

Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!

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

Marisa Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel delve into the vital role of managers as the heart of an organization. Wayne introduces the analogy of a heart, explaining how managers serve as the crucial link between senior leadership and their teams. They discuss the flow of information, the importance of effective communication, and the challenges faced by middle managers in maintaining trust and authenticity. Wayne emphasizes the need for transparency, honesty, and gathering accurate information to fulfill the role effectively. He shares insights on navigating the delicate balance between supporting decisions and expressing personal disagreements, all while ensuring the smooth functioning of the organization. Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tips for middle managers aiming to create a strong heartbeat within their teams and organizations.

1. Managers are the heartbeat of an organization: The analogy of a heart highlights the critical role managers play in processing and communicating information between senior leadership and their teams. 2. Gather accurate information: Managers should actively seek information from both above and below to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of the organization and can effectively communicate it to their teams. 3. Transparency and authenticity build trust: Being honest about what you know, what you don't know, and the assumptions being made fosters trust within the team and reduces the risk of being seen as deceptive. 4. Communicate decisions with clarity: Even if managers personally disagree with certain decisions, it is their responsibility to communicate them clearly and provide the rationale behind them to maintain trust and credibility. 5. Balance between supporting decisions and expressing personal opinions: Managers must strike a delicate balance between aligning with leadership decisions and expressing their personal disagreements, all while maintaining their role as effective communicators and leaders. 6. Effective communication is essential in remote and hybrid teams: In virtual work environments, managers must be intentional about communication, actively seeking and sharing information, and leveraging transparent communication channels to ensure the smooth flow of information.

00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:46 - Managers as the heartbeat of an organization. 00:02:18 - Importance of effective communication and processing information. 00:03:22 - Navigating the balance between upper management and the team. 00:05:06 - The challenge of supporting decisions one may personally disagree with. 00:06:15 - Being honest about what you don't know and avoiding making things up. 00:08:06 - Importance of transparency and authenticity in maintaining trust. 00:09:24 - Being honest about what you know and don't know to avoid damaging trust. 00:12:00 - Challenges of being a middle manager and delivering difficult news. 00:13:06 - Actionable step for middle managers: Gathering accurate information. 00:15:46 - Balancing support for decisions with personal opinions. 00:16:24 - Recap of the heartbeat analogy and the importance of managers in organizations.

• The Great Mismatch: Why Returning To The Office Is Not As Easy As We Thought
• Returning to Office with Kevin Eikenberry
• Expectations for Returning to the Office When You’ve Never Been to the Office

• There's Nothing Soft About the Heart
• Do You Need a Project Team EKG?
• Learn more about Wayne Turmel
• Email Wayne Turmel
• Connect with Wayne Turmel on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Marisa Eikenberry
• Email Marisa Eikenberry
• Connect with Marisa Eikenberry on LinkedIn
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Marisa asks Wayne about mandatory office days. What's the strategy behind them? Is this a way for management to bring everyone back to the office full time? Are we resistant to it because it's mandatory?

• Apple's Return to Office Policy
• Learn more about Marisa Eikenberry
• Email Marisa Eikenberry
• Learn more about Wayne Turmel
• Email Wayne Turmel
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Leader
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Teammate
• The Remote Leadership Institute
• The Kevin Eikenberry Group

• Monitoring Software for Remote Employees
• What are the Long Term Implications of Work From Home with Laurel Farrer
• Expectations for Returning to the Office When You’ve Never Been to the Office
• Returning to Office with Kevin Eikenberry

Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!

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

Wayne and Marisa chat about some remote work myths and whether or not they're true. They cover, whether or not brainstorming is impossible if you're remote, not being able to collaborate remotely, and whether or not innovation is stifled remotely.

• Learn more about Wayne Turmel
• Email Wayne Turmel
• Learn more about Marisa Eikenberry
• Email Marisa Eikenberry
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Leader
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Teammate
• The Remote Leadership Institute
• The Kevin Eikenberry Group

Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!

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

You can view all of the show notes and transcript at: https://longdistanceworklife.com/busting-the-myths-of-remote-work/

Scott Lyons, with Greenlink Payroll, joins Wayne to discuss how technology is improving Human Capital Management to create a culture of learning and aligned values within an organization.

• Learn more about Greenlink Payroll
• Connect with Scott Lyons on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Wayne Turmel
• Email Wayne Turmel
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Leader
• Purchase a copy of The Long-Distance Teammate
• The Remote Leadership Institute
• The Kevin Eikenberry Group

• How is Remote Work Changing the World of Human Resources? with Suzanne Lucas (Evil HR Lady)
• Feeling More Connected with Your Remote Team with Ryan Jenkins

Want us to answer one of your questions? Contact Us!

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