The Long-Distance Teammate

Sharing my learnings from the book, The Long-Distance Teammate by Kevin Eikenberry & Wayne Turmel

The Long-Distance Teammate by Kevin Eikenberry & Wayne Turmel

Working remotely isn’t just a new normal – something we must learn to live with – it is an opportunity to work in ways that provide great operational and productivity results for the organization, as well as provide individual teammates with the opportunity to be a part of great results while finding great meaning for themselves too.

This book will give you a new perspective on what remote work can be, set a higher benchmark, and help you create a work life that supports the rest of your life too.

• One of the biggest challenges of working from home is being – and feeling – like an effective member of a team.
• there’s a model that can help you be a better teammate from the comfort of your own home office. It all comes down to 3 Ps:
  • productivity – a great teammate will get the best work done in the time allotted and help the rest of his team and organization
  • proactivity – Being proactive at work means keeping an eye out for obstacles in the distance and taking preemptive action to manage them. This behavior is especially valuable when working remotely, as it builds trust and demonstrates a sincere commitment to working well.
  • potential – thinking about the long-term effects of your actions, and how they fit in with your goals and the goals of your teammates.
• remember that you’re part of something larger than yourself. you’re contributing to an organization with goals beyond your current project. your personal success and the organization’s success are linked.
• being busy and being productive are two very different things. 
• there are strategies to keep you on track and doing the work that really matters for your team. The key is to ask yourself four pivot questions:
  • Where is your focus right now? – It’s far better to focus on a single thing, block out distractions so that you can get it done, then move on
  • What’s the best use of your time? – To set priorities, write out your to-do list, then think about the big-picture goals each task contributes to
  • How can you influence others to maximize your productivity? – Part of being a teammate is teaching others how to work with you
  • What habits help or hinder your productivity? – Humans are creatures of habit, so try to establish habits that keep you healthy and productive
• Being open, honest, and clear with your communications can help everyone stay on the same page even when you’re not in the same room
• To ensure that your messages are received and understood, pick the right tools and consider your audience.
  • What we say tools are text-based mediums, like chats and emails
  • How we say it tools are audio-based mediums, like phone calls and voicemails.
  • how we look tools are video chats and recorded videos
• When choosing what platform to use, think about purpose, timing, and audience. This will allow you to match your platform to your communication needs.
• how do you make sure that your contributions are recognized without coming off as hungry for the spotlight or tooting your own horn? The answer is ethical visibility. This is a framework that puts your accomplishments in the context of your wider organization while staying supportive and appropriate.
  • focus should be on the goals of your team or organization, not you.
  • make a point of participating in meetings and discussions in a way that adds value and brings your team closer to its goals.
  • Congratulatory notes and brief conversations about things not related to work are a great way to establish deeper relationships and ensure that people know who you are and what you stand for. 
  • remember to stay aligned with the culture of your organization.
• If you’re aiming to be the best teammate you can be, you need to know how to give feedback – even (and especially) if it isn’t an explicit part of your job description.
  • First things first, an important clarification: feedback can be positive or negative.
  • important to be as specific as possible with your feedback, both good and bad
  • When you need to give negative feedback, it’s important to make it a conversation.
  • be kind. Make it clear that you care about the other person
  • When you’re receiving feedback from someone, remember to keep an open mind.
• Your physical health is often overlooked in discussions around work, but it’s critical – after all, you won’t be productive if you’re not feeling well.