Essential Remote/Hybrid Training for Managers of All Levels: Key Takeaways and Exclusive Video Highlights

Looking to improve your hybrid and remote team management? Essential Remote/Hybrid Training for Managers of All Levels from Udemy has the answers.

We’re big fans of hybrid and remote team management consultant Mike Gutman. The 30-minute watch time? Not so much.

That’s why we’ve broken down the course with key takeaways, reviews, and exclusive video highlights. 

Course details

• Created by remote and hybrid work consultant Mike Gutman
• Available on Udemy
• Eight video lectures totaling 32 minutes.
• 4.5 out of 5 rating on Udemy (1,033 students watched)
• Ideal for both established and aspiring managers

You’ll learn

• Management techniques that work for a remote or hybrid workforce
• Tips for selecting the best software and tools for your team
• How to be a considerate leader in changing workplace environments

Why it’s important

“The pendulum will continue to swing between remote, hybrid, and in-office work, but one thing is for sure. Remote work is not going anywhere! Simply put, people want choice. The choice to dictate when, where, and how they work best. The companies that support people at their best will be the companies that succeed.”

Quoted from Mike Gutman

Key takeaways and video highlights

If you want to learn how to be a better remote leader, I recommend reading my key takeaways from the course and watching these video highlights.

1. Set goals and measure results to ensure team and business success.

• Create transparent metrics and goals for you and your team.
• Help team members take ownership and accountability for their goals.
• Build a collaborative, cohesive environment amongst your team.
• Align your team’s business goals with those of other teams.
• Reduce micromanagement and constant check-ins to create transparency.
• Learn to measure results instead of effort and reward efficient team members.
• Use these metrics to curate professional development.

2. Lean away from micromanagement and into macro management

• Ask self-reflective questions like “How can I be a better manager?” and “Is there something I can be doing differently?” 
• Get to know your team personally. Learn how they work and what management styles complement them best. 
• Customize your management style for each team member.
• Create a productive environment for your team.
• Give your team bite-sized goals that are accomplishable. Then add from there.
• Be a macro manager and lead with a sense of service.

3. Improve productivity

• Learn your team’s strengths. When you assign a team member work they’re passionate about and skilled at, increased productivity will follow. 
• Set a budget for productivity. Ensure your team has the right tools and resources to be successful.
• Identify when your team is at their most and least engaged. Build around their most productive hours.

4. Create physiological safety 

• Create psychological safety so the best ideas can rise to the top.
• Ask people how they want to be managed and adapt accordingly.
• Listen for the silence. If you hear it, be proactive and ask if they’re ok. 
• Be vulnerable as a manager — especially as a new manager.
• Ask others how they’d like to receive feedback. Then create feedback loops that best suit your team.
• Identify how you would like to receive feedback yourself. Take constructive criticism and become a better manager. 
• Create a warm and welcoming doorway for your team members.

5. Invest in remote team management tools

• Ask your team members what tools they need to be successful.
• Set a budget and share it with your team.
• Work towards obtaining the right productivity tools and resources.
• Become a power user with your tools and software.
• Write best practices for each tool and clarify them to all team members.
• Increase efficiency with tools like Hubstaff
  • See productive and time-wasting apps with website and app usage reports.
  • Meet project scope expectations with real-time budget forecasting.
  • Turn tracked time into automated timesheets for efficient payroll.
  • Use workforce analytics to coach team members.

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6. Manage up and invite your team to do the same

• Use technology to create feedback loops.
• Ask your team for feedback on how you can be a better manager.
• Ask your team to hold you accountable.
• Be clear about how you want to receive ongoing feedback from your team.
• Encourage and apply the same behaviors across all leadership positions.

7. Have powerful meetings

• Allow people to opt out of meetings without negative consequences.
• Audit recurring meetings. Ask your team and yourself, “why are we still having these?”
• Be intentional about invitations. Include only those that need to be there.
• Build trust by starting meetings with informal banter. This is especially important on remote and hybrid teams.
• Keep meetings to an appropriate length. In the case of back-to-back meetings, give your team a break in between. 

Be a better remote leader

Remote work is evolving rapidly — and so should you. Follow Mike Gutman’s lead and spend some time improving your remote leadership skills.

Here are two things you can do today that will only take 40 minutes of your time:

1. Complete the course on Udemy (32 minutes)
2. Watch our video highlights of the course in (5 minutes)

Contact us today to discuss how you can expand your remote team management skills with Hubstaff.