We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Dr. Corrie J Block, PhD, DBA

Managers often find themselves leading teams digitally, but are not often given the tools for how to lead remotely. This course covers practical and affective tools and processes for remote team leadership and management, taught by a Professor of Strategic Management with more than 20 years of experience on remote working teams. 

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Effectively manage decentralized teams.
  • Tools for monitoring progress and performance.
  • Leadership principles for aligning team members to corporate goals.
  • Practical guide on frequency and scheduling of communications.
  • Protocol guide for communications before, during, and after online meetings.
  • Tips for digitalization of processes.
  • Time management and deliverables monitoring.
  • Improve productivity and profitability through empowerment.
  • Tips & tricks for managing remote team members who have kids
  • Mental heath check questions to help isolated team members.

Syllabus

Introduction
Challenges of Remote Teams
Communications
Productivity and Performance
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides tools for monitoring progress and performance, which are essential for effective remote team management
Offers a practical guide on communication frequency and scheduling, which can improve team coordination
Includes tips for managing remote team members who have kids, addressing a common challenge in remote work
Covers mental health check questions to help isolated team members, which is important for team well-being
Explores digitalization of processes, which can streamline workflows and improve efficiency in remote settings
Examines online meeting protocols before, during, and after meetings, which can improve meeting effectiveness

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Practical remote team management insights

According to learners, this course offers valuable and practical guidance for managing remote teams effectively. Students frequently highlight the instructor's extensive experience in remote work, which provides credibility and real-world examples. The course covers essential topics such as communication strategies, performance management, and importantly, delves into the mental health aspects of remote work and challenges like managing remote team members with kids. While many found the tips immediately applicable and the structure easy to follow, a few reviews suggest that some sections could benefit from greater depth or updates on the latest tools.
Covers key areas including mental health.
"Appreciated the focus on <span class="neutral">mental health and <span class="neutral">working parents - topics often overlooked but very relevant now."
"Good overview of <span class="neutral">performance management and <span class="neutral">productivity tools for remote settings."
"Covers all the <span class="neutral">essentials of remote team leadership, providing a solid grounding."
"The module on <span class="neutral">digitalizing processes was very informative."
Insights from an experienced remote leader.
"The professor's <span class="positive">20+ years of experience really shines through; his insights were invaluable and credible."
"It was great to hear from someone who has been <span class="positive">working remotely for decades – he understands the nuances of this space."
"His real-world examples made the concepts much more <span class="positive">relatable and valuable than pure theory."
"The instructor's personal anecdotes added significant <span class="positive">value and perspective."
Provides strategies applicable to daily remote work.
"The course offered <span class="positive">practical tips and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work environment."
"I found the sections on <span class="neutral">communication frequency and <span class="neutral">meeting protocols particularly useful for structuring my team's interactions."
"Learned many <span class="positive">actionable techniques for managing my decentralized team more effectively."
"I gained <span class="positive">concrete methods for monitoring performance and giving feedback remotely."
Some content could be more detailed or current.
"Some parts felt a little <span class="warning">basic, especially for someone with prior experience in remote work."
"Could benefit from <span class="warning">more in-depth coverage on advanced topics or specific tool deep-dives."
"Certain sections felt like they could use <span class="warning">an update based on newer communication tools/trends in the remote space."
"I was hoping for a bit <span class="warning">more tactical detail in some areas."

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 Managing Remote Teams with these activities:
Read 'The Remote Work Era: Leading, Engaging, and Thriving in the New World of Work'
Gain a foundational understanding of the remote work landscape and best practices before starting the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the book.
  • Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
  • Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own experiences.
Review Project Management Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of project management principles, which are essential for effectively managing remote teams and tracking progress.
Browse courses on Project Management
Show steps
  • Review project management methodologies.
  • Practice creating project timelines.
  • Familiarize yourself with project management software.
Document Your Team's Communication Protocol
Develop a clear and concise communication protocol for your team, addressing frequency, channels, and expectations for different types of communication.
Show steps
  • Identify the different communication needs of your team.
  • Choose appropriate communication channels for each need.
  • Document the protocol and share it with your team.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Time Management Exercises
Practice time management techniques to improve your ability to prioritize tasks, manage your schedule, and meet deadlines, which is crucial for remote team management.
Show steps
  • Use the Pomodoro Technique.
  • Prioritize tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix.
  • Track your time using a time tracking app.
Review 'Remote, Inc.: How to Transform Your Company Into a Remote Work Powerhouse'
Gain a deeper understanding of the strategic aspects of building and managing a remote company.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the book.
  • Read the book, focusing on the strategic aspects of remote work.
  • Consider how to apply the concepts to your own organization.
Implement a Digitalization Project
Identify a process within your team that can be digitalized and implement a project to automate or streamline it, improving efficiency and productivity.
Show steps
  • Identify a manual process.
  • Research digitalization tools.
  • Implement the chosen tool.
  • Train your team on the new process.
Develop a Remote Team Handbook
Create a comprehensive handbook for your remote team, outlining expectations, policies, and best practices for remote work, serving as a valuable resource for team members.
Show steps
  • Gather information on remote work policies.
  • Organize the information into a handbook format.
  • Share the handbook with your team.

Career center

Learners who complete Managing Remote Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Remote Team Manager
The Remote Team Manager is directly tasked with overseeing and guiding remote teams, and this course on Managing Remote Teams provides the exact training and insights that the role requires. This position needs an understanding of digital communication, tools, and processes, all of which are taught in the course. The course's exploration of leadership principles and communication protocols helps a Remote Team Manager to lead effectively. The course also covers the nuances of remote work, such as mental health and working with children at home, which provides critical skills for this specific role.
Online Meeting Facilitator
An Online Meeting Facilitator is responsible for guiding successful virtual meetings, and this course precisely covers the key elements of effective remote meetings. This role requires an in-depth knowledge of online meeting protocols, tools, and techniques, which are covered in the course. This course's detailed guide on the protocols for meetings before, during, and after, will help an Online Meeting Facilitator prepare, run, and follow up after a meeting. The course's insights on communication and co-facilitation are also very relevant.
Team Lead
A Team Lead is responsible for guiding a team to success, and this course on Managing Remote Teams offers immediately applicable skills. This role involves setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and ensuring team members are aligned with corporate objectives, all of which are covered in this course. The course's focus on communication, scheduling, and meeting protocols directly supports a Team Lead in facilitating productive remote work. In particular, the sections on digitalizing processes and using communication tools help a Team Lead to effectively manage a remote team.
Virtual Team Coordinator
A Virtual Team Coordinator helps organize and maintain team communication in a remote environment, and this course on Managing Remote Teams offers the practical tools to do this effectively. Virtual Team Coordinators plan meetings, organize communication, and help employees to effectively collaborate remotely. This course's focus on communication tools, meeting protocols, and digitalization of processes will be directly applicable. In particular, the course's section on scheduling and frequency of communication will help a virtual team coordinator keep a team on track.
Project Manager
A Project Manager oversees the completion of specific projects, and the tools taught in Managing Remote Teams are directly applicable to this field. Effective project management requires the ability to keep teams on track, manage deadlines, and maintain clear communication, similar to the functions covered in this course. This course's detailed approach to remote team leadership, including monitoring progress and performance and managing communications, helps a Project Manager maintain project momentum. Specifically, the course's guidance on time management, deliverables, and digitalizing processes helps project managers to organize their work.
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager ensures that an organization runs smoothly, and the skills covered in Managing Remote Teams are essential for today's digital workplace. Efficiency, communication, and the ability to manage diverse groups of personnel are central to operations management. This course's focus on monitoring efficiency, productivity, and communication helps an Operations Manager keep a team running effectively. The course's sections on time management, deliverables, and digitalizing processes will help an Operations Manager manage daily tasks.
Digital Transformation Manager
A Digital Transformation Manager guides organizations through the process of integrating digital technology, and this course on Managing Remote Teams offers strong knowledge of how to manage teams through digitalization. This role needs to understand and implement digital tools, processes, and strategies, all of which are discussed in this course. A Digital Transformation Manager will find the content on communication tools, digital processes, and online meeting protocols to be directly applicable to this role. The course's focus on digitalizing processes will be particularly important for a Digital Transformation Manager.
Management Consultant
A Management Consultant advises organizations on how to improve their operations, and the course on Managing Remote Teams provides applicable tools for today's work teams. Consultants analyze and offer solutions for various management challenges, including remote work, and this course provides concrete, tested approaches.. Management Consultants will find the course's deep dive into remote team leadership, including communication protocols and mental health, to be very useful. The course's focus on principles of remote leadership and team building will be particularly helpful to a consultant working with a remote team.
Program Manager
A Program Manager oversees multiple related projects, and this course on Managing Remote Teams offers the required skills for managing multiple project teams, especially in a remote setting. Program managers must be adept at communication, coordination, and the implementation of technology, all of which are covered in the course. The course's materials on scheduling, communication tools, and digitalizing processes are directly applicable to program management and may be especially useful to a program manager whose program is operated remotely.
Director of Operations
A Director of Operations leads and manages overall business operations, and this course on Managing Remote Teams provides essential tools for operating and leading remote teams. A Director of Operations needs a solid knowledge of productivity, performance, and remote work best practices, all of which are covered in the course. The course's deep dives into remote leadership, productivity, and communication processes are directly relevant. The course's emphasis on digitalization and the management of remote performance is especially valuable for a Director of Operations.
Change Management Specialist
A Change Management Specialist assists organizations through periods of adaptation and change, and this course on Managing Remote Teams provides valuable skills for navigating the shift to remote work. Change management requires a strong grasp of remote communication and the ability to adapt processes to new work environments. A Change Management Specialist will find the course's discussion of communication tools, digital processes, and remote team building particularly valuable. This course provides crucial insight into the human and practical aspects of managing a remote workforce.
Human Resources Generalist
A Human Resources Generalist handles employee relations, and this course on Managing Remote Teams offers valuable insights for managing remote teams. The transition to remote work affects employee experience, and this course covers how best to manage this. The course material on remote communication and mental health check-ins will help a Human Resources Generalist foster a healthy remote work environment. A Human Resources Generalist will also find the course's discussion of productivity and performance helpful when evaluating employees.
Training and Development Specialist
A Training and Development Specialist is responsible for improving employee skills and performance, and this course provides models and techniques for managing teams remotely. This course's modules covering productivity, communication, and the digitalization of processes will be valuable to a training specialist. This course may be useful, especially the parts that delve into remote teambuilding and mental health check-ins, which are important considerations when designing training programs.
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager works to grow an organization's business, and this course will help a business development manager operate, manage, and lead a remote team. The course material on communication tools and digitalization of processes will help a business development team communicate effectively and hit targets. This course may be useful, particularly the sections on empowering remote employees.
Sales Manager
A Sales Manager leads a team to meet sales targets, and this course can help a Sales Manager lead and organize remote sales teams. The principles of remote team leadership covered in this course are directly applicable to this role. This course may be helpful to a sales manager, especially the sections on performance monitoring, productivity, communication tools, and team building.

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Managing Remote Teams.
Provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the challenges and opportunities of remote work. It covers topics such as building trust, fostering collaboration, and maintaining productivity in a remote environment. Reading this book will provide a strong foundation for the course and offer practical strategies for managing remote teams effectively. It is particularly useful for understanding the nuances of remote leadership and engagement.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser