04/08/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/08/2021 08:35
To remain competitive, businesses of all sizes are discovering the need to make remote work a priority. And as more companies hire remote talent, they will need to hire a head of remote work to oversee this workforce.
Even before the massive shift to remote work triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses hired remote workers and a leader to oversee them. A director of remote work (or remote work officer) is often seen as crucial to success.
Yet what exactly is a remote work leader? What do they do? Does your organization need one? What skills should a person in this role possess? How do you know you've found the right person for this position?
Here's what you need to know about hiring a remote work leader.
Why are companies adopting remote work?
There are a few compelling reasons for business owners to embrace a remote workforce, including:
Businesses need to develop a comprehensive strategy for shifting to remote operations on a sustainable basis. At the same time, it's important to remember that what works for one company may not serve another one well. Some companies may become entirely remote. Others may find a hybrid model - a mix of remote and in-person work - ideal.
Whatever path a business chooses, companies need dedicated experts to help them create remote work policies.
What is a head of remote work?
A remote work leader is someone who can build a work-from-home program (or a hybrid model) while managing all aspects of a remote, possibly distributed workforce of employees working from different time zones.
While many organizations have a remote work leader, there is little uniformity in the definition of this relatively new role. The good news? Each business can customize key elements of the role to suit their specific needs. And this type of role will likely continue to evolve.
Does my business need a remote work leader?
The answer depends on your company's size, the depth and breadth of your organization, its operations and whether your business is remote-friendly or all-remote.
If your workforce has more than a few remote workers, plans to hire more remote talent, is exploring a hybrid model or is transitioning to an all-remote workforce, a remote workforce leader can build a model that:
What does a remote work leader do?
Generally speaking, a remote work leader is dedicated to making remote work a successful organizational strategy. As such, it's a role that touches practically every part of your business, including:
What skills does a remote work leader possess?
The ideal individual is someone who is:
HR experience is not a requirement for this role. It's arguably more important for this leader to understand people, culture and dynamic business environments than HR regulatory compliance issues. Plus, the remote work leader can always consult with HR about specific issues.
When recruiting for this type of position, it's important to keep in mind that the role's scope of responsibilities influences the title (i.e. chief remote work officer, executive, manager, director or leader). Remember, too, that you may also chose to hire someone either in a full- or part-time capacity, bring in a consultant or promote someone internally into a stretch role.
Bottom line: You should select a leader who can lead the creation and implementation of the best model (all remote, all on-site or hybrid) to meet business needs.
8 things a remote work leader should know:
Summing it all up
The shift to remote work - with virtual customer interactions and contact-free, digital processes - may have been sped up during the pandemic, but it will likely never entirely disappear for many companies. To support employees, customers and strategic partners in today's digital-first environment, business owners are building new best practices, including creating a remote work leader in their organizations.
Whatever approach you take to remote work, don't lose sight of the critical competitive advantage a strong, talented workforce can bring to your business. Get more ideas by downloading our free e-book: How to develop a top-notch workforce that will accelerate your business.