Your Checklist for Inclusive Remote Work
"Inclusion is not a strategy to help people fit into the systems and structures which exist in our societies. It is about transforming those systems and structures to make it better for everyone. Inclusion is about creating a better world for everyone." – Diane Richler
Your Checklist for Inclusive Remote Work
Hello from the Cayman Islands! My sister, Dr. Natalie Sharpe, is a brilliant oncologist and palliative care specialist who lives and works here full time. I travel here when I can to visit her and my nephews. When I do, I get the chance to remote work by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Which leads me to today’s topic - remote work and inclusion.
Remote work is a boon to so many. It has allowed millions of people to work at jobs that five years ago they may not have even considered. Without getting into the debate of remote vs. in-person, I’ll share something we can all agree on: remote work (which has been around for decades) is most certainly here to stay. So what can we do to make it more effective and inclusive for you and your remote co-workers and direct reports? Here is my three question remote work inclusion checklist for you:
1. What Biases Do You Have About Remote Work?
What assumptions do you have about people who choose not to come into an office? Do you think they can’t cut it? Do you think they’re missing out? Do you think they aren’t leadership material? Do you think they’re not committed to their jobs? Don’t lean into old habits of bias. Engage in perspective-shifting and consider the reasons why someone works remotely and how that benefits both them and their team.
2. Can You Replicate In-Person Opportunities for Remote Workers?
Much of career development in an in-person workplace is informal. “Come with me; let me show you how it’s done.” How can we replicate these opportunities for remote workers? Collaborative tools, providing access to professional development, and utilizing the many platforms available to keep our teams connected.
3. How Are You Supporting Employees Who Have Never Been to the Office?
It's 2024. Many employees have never physically been into the office, many have never met their colleagues in person, and they are still out there trying to thrive and succeed. How do we support their growth? How do we bridge the gap? Be a leader who shares real-time actionable feedback with your remote team. Connect that feedback to career goals. Be intentional about reaching out and making sure your remote employees are hitting their development goals as well. And remember this: remote work can be a very enriching experience, but it can also be a lonely one. Yes the meeting might have been a much better email, but there is also a great deal of value in being the manager - and the colleague - who reaches out to say you’re always available for a virtual coffee or to meet up somewhere in person.
That’s my remote work checklist for you. Use it and enjoy the flexibility technology has given us and all the people it allows us to include in our ever-shifting workplace. "When you do learn these things, when you understand what inclusion is, then we can accomplish greater things together." – Aldis Hodge
Do the work
This week, I commit to checking any bias I may have about hybrid work and if needed, working to shift my perspective of and embrace the ever-changing workforce.
Spread the word
If you want to keep going
How to Create an Inclusive Hybrid Workplace
A decade ago, we would never have imagined we would be here: caught between in-person and remote in a world permanently changed by COVID-19. The pandemic has given us new realities of how we work and advance our inclusive workplace culture. What lessons can we learn from the past few years and how can we adjust if the world shifts again? In this unique keynote, I will share how we can RECONNECT in a new hybrid workplace with our multi-generational, dispersed teams. With stories, data, and practical tools to put in place, we will talk through the difficult questions about inclusion, well-being, generational shifts, and building real change that lasts.
