Published on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008
Gobalisation is the new business strategy so global alliances, off-shoring and multinational organisations are the order of the day. In tune with this, many big and small companies from USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Australia etc. are setting shop in India.
These companies hire local managers who have to report to distant bosses while managing staff from their own country. Such a distributed working across time zones has the perfect makings of a potential cataclysmic disaster.
As an offshoot, the geographical and cultural barriers place new and unique demands on the remote employees that scream ‘handle with care’! After all, it is easy to get disconnected in the non-traditional scenario, the consequences of which will be borne by the employees only. Therefore, the onus is on you to create the foundations of a strong working relationship with your distant boss right from the start.
Here’s how to deal with a virtual boss when you are separated by both space and time:
Reach out – When the boss is not in the same office as you, it is quite easy to lose contact and get sidetracked or go completely off course. Create early engagement by establishing clear two-way communication across the distance using technology solutions like web conferencing, teleconferences, videoconferencing, groupware and other web-based scheduling software. Try to gain some face time with the boss by trying to secure a significant block of his time for yourself when you can check in with him. Then, set up a pattern of communication like daily briefs, weekly memos or other such periodic updates that will help you to establish a degree of personal interaction. Apart from this, experts suggest occasional face-to-face meetings (like going to the home country) to create personal camaraderie inspite of the physical separation.
Take initiative – While effective communication can still be achieved, it is incredibly difficult for you to stay aligned and achieve the desired goals. As you cannot simply walk down the hall to ask questions or clarify instructions, misunderstandings over priorities and expectations can occur. Even the context and jargon can be misinterpreted easily. To operate effectively, it is essential to achieve coordination and collaboration with the boss regardless of the distance. As Thomassen and Villumsen of The Danish Leadership Institute state, “The further the distance, the clearer, explicit and unambiguous the message must be.”
Clarify the mission and goals, request frequent direction, feedback and performance reviews, seek regular input and approval, periodically sound out new ideas as well as simplify or repeat key messages to ensure that both of you are working on the same wavelength.
Stay connected – Solicit regular company information, new staff data and competitor updates to be able to stay in the loop even when you are oceans apart. Also, carefully reading between the lines to grasp subtle messages in emails or conference calls and pursuing any disconnects that you decipher ensures that you will be on board with whatever is happening.
Only when you close the gap between yourself and headquarters and become part of the ‘team’ can you connect to the real network of the organisation.
Winning him over - As the boss is far removed and cannot see you, he is likely to remain sceptical and slow to trust a ‘local’ manager. He may baulk at your ideas or be reluctant to adopt your suggestions.
You will be in dire need of his support, but actually winning his trust is another story altogether. You have to literally woo him by persevering patiently in your negotiations and persuasions without ruffling any feathers to be able to convince him to your way of thinking. Also, toeing the line without showing an independent streak or criticising anybody, sometimes even to the extent of letting the boss take credit for your work will win you brownie points.
Local trappings – Apart from the frustration of ‘working blind’, the remote boss will also be out of touch with local markets, philosophies and sentiments. Business traditions and corporate customs will vary, not to mention the fact that the home country may be too traditional/contemporary, too easy-going/stringent or even excessively formal/casual.
Proactively learn the culture and defer to the customs of the home country even while being sensitive to local leadership norms, to avoid breaching etiquette even unknowingly.
All said and done, you have to adapt quickly and bridge the gap with a boss who is on the other side of the globe, lest the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ scenario creeps in.
These companies hire local managers who have to report to distant bosses while managing staff from their own country. Such a distributed working across time zones has the perfect makings of a potential cataclysmic disaster.
As an offshoot, the geographical and cultural barriers place new and unique demands on the remote employees that scream ‘handle with care’! After all, it is easy to get disconnected in the non-traditional scenario, the consequences of which will be borne by the employees only. Therefore, the onus is on you to create the foundations of a strong working relationship with your distant boss right from the start.
Here’s how to deal with a virtual boss when you are separated by both space and time:
Reach out – When the boss is not in the same office as you, it is quite easy to lose contact and get sidetracked or go completely off course. Create early engagement by establishing clear two-way communication across the distance using technology solutions like web conferencing, teleconferences, videoconferencing, groupware and other web-based scheduling software. Try to gain some face time with the boss by trying to secure a significant block of his time for yourself when you can check in with him. Then, set up a pattern of communication like daily briefs, weekly memos or other such periodic updates that will help you to establish a degree of personal interaction. Apart from this, experts suggest occasional face-to-face meetings (like going to the home country) to create personal camaraderie inspite of the physical separation.
Take initiative – While effective communication can still be achieved, it is incredibly difficult for you to stay aligned and achieve the desired goals. As you cannot simply walk down the hall to ask questions or clarify instructions, misunderstandings over priorities and expectations can occur. Even the context and jargon can be misinterpreted easily. To operate effectively, it is essential to achieve coordination and collaboration with the boss regardless of the distance. As Thomassen and Villumsen of The Danish Leadership Institute state, “The further the distance, the clearer, explicit and unambiguous the message must be.”
Clarify the mission and goals, request frequent direction, feedback and performance reviews, seek regular input and approval, periodically sound out new ideas as well as simplify or repeat key messages to ensure that both of you are working on the same wavelength.
Stay connected – Solicit regular company information, new staff data and competitor updates to be able to stay in the loop even when you are oceans apart. Also, carefully reading between the lines to grasp subtle messages in emails or conference calls and pursuing any disconnects that you decipher ensures that you will be on board with whatever is happening.
Only when you close the gap between yourself and headquarters and become part of the ‘team’ can you connect to the real network of the organisation.
Winning him over - As the boss is far removed and cannot see you, he is likely to remain sceptical and slow to trust a ‘local’ manager. He may baulk at your ideas or be reluctant to adopt your suggestions.
You will be in dire need of his support, but actually winning his trust is another story altogether. You have to literally woo him by persevering patiently in your negotiations and persuasions without ruffling any feathers to be able to convince him to your way of thinking. Also, toeing the line without showing an independent streak or criticising anybody, sometimes even to the extent of letting the boss take credit for your work will win you brownie points.
Local trappings – Apart from the frustration of ‘working blind’, the remote boss will also be out of touch with local markets, philosophies and sentiments. Business traditions and corporate customs will vary, not to mention the fact that the home country may be too traditional/contemporary, too easy-going/stringent or even excessively formal/casual.
Proactively learn the culture and defer to the customs of the home country even while being sensitive to local leadership norms, to avoid breaching etiquette even unknowingly.
All said and done, you have to adapt quickly and bridge the gap with a boss who is on the other side of the globe, lest the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ scenario creeps in.
PAYAL CHANANIA
Amiable brief and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you seeking your information.
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