How to Manage a Remote Team from Coursera

Remote management is much more than just implementing a work-from-home policy. In this course, you’ll learn and apply remote work best practices, build your remote work policy, and prepare your team for success.

This course is ideal for current managers, executives, and human resources professionals who want to learn how to lead and support a high-functioning, scalable remote team. GitLab is one of the world’s largest all-remote organizations; experts from throughout the company will guide you through in-depth lessons for leaders, people managers, and HR professionals to build, manage, and scale.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

- Lead in a remote environment

- Build a remote organizational culture and practices

- Assess teams’ and managers’ readiness and preparation for remote work

- Create a foundational strategy for executing a remote transformation

For the final project in this course, you will create a real or hypothetical strategic plan to transition a team to remote operation. You will assess your organization's remote maturity and infrastructure, and identify the best team structure for remote operation — including determining whether to use an all-remote or remote-friendly model. You'll outline plans for documentation, education, leadership, and equipment or resource needs for your unique organization.

This is an intermediate-level course, intended for learners who have previous experience managing or leading people. To succeed in this course, you should have at least one year of management experience. No remote experience is required.

What's inside

Syllabus

Remote Work Best Practices

In this module, you will learn about how to prepare a remote-friendly organization, and apply it by assessing your current remote readiness.

Managing Remote Teams

In this module, you will learn about common challenges and adjustments that need to be made when beginning to manage a remote team. You will understand and be able to evaluate performance, morale, and success metrics.

Remote Adaptation Processes for Organizations

In this module, you will gain understanding of your organization's current level of remote adaptation, and begin to map out a foundational strategy for optimal remote operation.

Culture and Values for Distributed Teams

In this module, you will understand the importance of culture and values statements for supporting business strategy. You will learn how to develop, roll out, and refine organizational values for a distributed team.

Final Assignment: Outline your Remote Transition Plan

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches best practices, culture building, and team management for successful remote work

Provides a solid foundation for managers, executives, and HR professionals transitioning to remote work

Guided by experts from GitLab, one of the world's largest all-remote organizations

Covers essential topics such as team structure, performance evaluation, and remote adaptation processes

Requires some management experience but no prior remote work experience

Focuses on transitioning teams to remote operation rather than personal remote work skills

Reviews summary

Remote team management: a guide to leading from afar

learners say this course by GitLab does an exceptional job of presenting a well-rounded view of how to manage teams remotely. Students express appreciation for the emphasis on communication, asynchronous work, and extensive documentation for successful remote team dynamics. The course offers not only theoretical content but also practical examples and insights from GitLab's own experience as a fully remote company. It covers a range of topics, including the benefits and challenges of remote work, how to transition to a remote model, and how to manage remote teams effectively. The course includes quizzes and assignments to reinforce learning and provides opportunities to connect with other students and share experiences.

The course engages learners through quizzes and discussion forums.

"includes quizzes and assignments to reinforce learning and provides opportunities to connect with other students and share experiences"

The course covers the challenges of transitioning to a remote work model.

"how to transition to a remote model"

The course offers practical techniques for managing remote teams effectively.

"how to manage remote teams effectively"

Effective communication is crucial for remote team management.

"emphasis on communication, asynchronous work, and extensive documentation for successful remote team dynamics"

The course provides valuable real-world examples from GitLab.

"insights from GitLab's own experience as a fully remote company"

This course provides a comprehensive overview of remote team management.

"this course by GitLab does an exceptional job of presenting a well-rounded view of how to manage teams remotely"

"theoretical content but also practical examples and insights from GitLab's own experience"

"covers a range of topics, including the benefits and challenges of remote work, how to transition to a remote model, and how to manage remote teams effectively"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Manage a Remote Team with these activities:

Review Course Materials

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Reviewing the course materials and assessing your past experience in remote management will help you prepare for the course and engage with the content more effectively.

Browse courses on Remote Management

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Gather your course syllabus, readings, and any other relevant materials.
Preview the course materials to get a general understanding of the topics that will be covered.
Reflect on your previous experiences in remote management and identify any areas where you would like to improve your skills.
Take notes on any questions or areas of interest that you have.

GitLab Tutorial

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Completing a tutorial on GitLab will provide you with hands-on experience using the platform and enhance your understanding of its features and capabilities.

Browse courses on GitLab

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Enroll in a GitLab tutorial or workshop.
Complete the tutorial modules and exercises.
Create a GitLab account and practice using the platform for project management and collaboration.

Virtual Study Group

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Participating in a virtual study group will provide you with an opportunity to connect with classmates, discuss course concepts, and support each other's learning.

Browse courses on Remote Team Management

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Find a group of classmates who are interested in forming a study group.
Choose a meeting time and platform for your study group.
Discuss course materials, share insights, and work on assignments together.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Case Study Analysis

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Analyzing case studies will help you apply the course concepts to real-world situations and develop your problem-solving skills.

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Read the case study and identify the key issues and challenges faced by the organization.
Apply the course concepts to analyze the case study and develop recommendations for improvement.
Discuss your analysis and recommendations with classmates or colleagues.
Write a report summarizing your analysis and recommendations.

Blog Post on Remote Work Best Practices

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Writing a blog post on remote work best practices will help you synthesize your understanding of the course material and share your insights with a broader audience.

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Choose a specific topic related to remote work best practices.
Research and gather information from the course materials, articles, and other sources.
Write a blog post that outlines your key points and provides practical advice.
Share your blog post on social media or other platforms.

Remote Work Policy

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Creating a remote work policy will allow you to apply the principles learned in the course to your own organization and establish clear guidelines for remote work.

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Gather input from stakeholders, including employees, managers, and HR representatives.
Research best practices and industry standards for remote work policies.
Draft a policy that includes sections on eligibility, equipment, work hours, communication, and performance evaluation.
Review and refine the policy with stakeholders.
Finalize and implement the policy.

Contributing to Open Source Remote Work Projects

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Contributing to open source remote work projects will give you practical experience in applying course concepts and make a tangible impact on the remote work community.

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Identify open source remote work projects that align with your skills and interests.
Contribute to the project by submitting bug reports, suggesting improvements, or writing code.
Engage with the project community through forums and discussion boards.
Attend project events or meetups.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Manage a Remote Team will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Human Resources Business Partner

For a Human Resources Business Partner, understanding how to manage remote teams is vital. A comprehensive course like How to Manage a Remote Team, as provided by GitLab, can help these HR professionals not only with managing but also with policy drafting and strategy development, ensuring a smooth transition to remote work for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Business Partner

Manager, Employee Relations

Managers of Employee Relations need to be prepared to manage all types of teams. This course can help them onboard remote teams and ensure that policies and procedures are followed, creating a consistent and fair work environment for all employees.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manager, Employee Relations

Learning and Development Manager

Creating training and development programs for remote teams is a key competency for Learning and Development Managers. This course can help them build remote-friendly programs that improve engagement and effectiveness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning and Development Manager

Project Manager

Managing remote projects requires specialized skills and knowledge, which this course can provide Project Managers. It offers best practices for remote work, team management, and project execution, ensuring successful project outcomes in a distributed work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Operations Manager

For Operations Managers, transitioning to remote work can bring many challenges, including managing resources, ensuring efficient operations, and maintaining employee productivity. This course can help them address these challenges and adapt their operations for remote work success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Consultant

Offering guidance on remote work strategies is a valuable service that Consultants can provide to their clients. By taking this course, Consultants can enhance their expertise and help clients navigate the complexities of remote work management, empowering them to achieve their business goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Team Leader

Team Leaders play a critical role in managing remote teams. This course can provide them with essential skills to lead effectively in a distributed environment, including communication, motivation, and performance management techniques tailored for remote work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

HR Manager

For HR Managers, understanding how to manage remote teams is crucial. This course can help them develop policies, strategies, and practices that support the success and well-being of remote employees, ensuring a positive and productive work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for HR Manager

Executive

Executives who want to lead and manage remote teams effectively can benefit from this course. It offers valuable insights into creating a successful remote work culture, fostering collaboration, and making strategic decisions that drive performance and innovation in a distributed work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Executive

Program Manager

For Program Managers, managing remote teams is essential for achieving program goals. This course can help them develop skills in remote stakeholder management, communication, and coordination, ensuring successful program execution in a distributed work environment.

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Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officers (COOs) play a vital role in shaping organizational strategy and operations, including managing remote teams. This course can help COOs understand the unique challenges and opportunities of remote work, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive business success in a distributed work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operating Officer

Director of Human Resources

Directors of Human Resources are responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources, including managing remote teams. This course can help them develop expertise in remote work management, ensuring the organization has the policies, practices, and support systems in place to foster a successful and productive remote work environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Director of Human Resources

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) need to understand the financial implications of remote work, such as managing remote employee expenses and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. This course can help CFOs develop a comprehensive understanding of remote work management, enabling them to make informed financial decisions that support the organization's remote work strategy.

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Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are responsible for managing the organization's technology infrastructure, including supporting remote work. This course can help CIOs understand the unique challenges of remote work technology management, such as ensuring data security and providing remote employees with the necessary tools and resources to succeed.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) are responsible for leading the organization's technology strategy and implementation. This course can help CTOs understand the impact of remote work on technology decisions, such as choosing the right collaboration tools and ensuring the organization's network infrastructure can support remote work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer