Ep. 50 Interview Series: Remote Work Success with Shane Spraggs

Business Breaks - All Things Business

Speaker Bio:

Shane Spraggs is a seasoned remote work expert and co-founder of Virtira, a company that has been working remotely for over a decade. With the onset of the pandemic, Shane recognized the opportunity to help others navigate the challenges of remote work. While Virtira was already well-equipped for remote work, they saw that many individuals, especially managers and executives, were struggling to adapt to this new way of operating. Shane and his team set out to share their wealth of remote work experience, aiming to assist those who had little prior exposure to remote work.
Despite facing their own challenges, Shane remained determined to provide timely guidance and support to those who needed it.
Connect with Shane:

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Instagram

Don't forget to purchase his book "The Power of Remote"

• Forbes
• Amazon

Episode Topics:

I. Introduction and Overview
- Introduce podcast name, episode title, host names, and guest name
II. Importance of Balance and Motivation for Remote Workers
- Discussion on the critical nature of balance and motivation for remote workers
III. Importance of Onboarding for Remote Employees
- Shane Spraggs shares his company's 100-step onboarding process
- Emphasis on the need for new hires to meet people and have a social connection within the company
IV. Performance Management and Goal Setting for Remote Workers
- Discussion on setting goals for the first week, month, and beyond as part of a performance management plan
V. Challenges of Remote Learning and Intentional Learning Experiences
- Shane Spraggs highlights the challenges of remote learning and the importance of intentional learning experiences
VI. Maintaining Team Cohesion and Culture in a Remote Environment
- Discussion on the importance of relatedness and intentional team building in a fully remote environment
- Introduction to the Collaborative Journal tool used for connecting with remote team members and tracking topics for 1-on-1 meetings
VII. Good Management vs Different Management Techniques for Remote Work
- Shane Spraggs emphasizes the need for good management rather than different management techniques in remote work
VIII. Importance of Communication and Clear Understanding of Company Purpose
- Discussion on the importance of leaders communicating with remote team members and having a clear understanding of the company's purpose
- Suggestion to regularly communicate the company's mission, involve employees in decision-making, and revisit goals regularly
IX. Inspiring Team Members and Aligning with Company Vision
- Importance of inspiring team members, making them feel included, and aligning them with the company's vision
X. Career Advancement Opportunities for Remote Workers
- Dante Healy raises concerns about career advancement opportunities for remote workers
- Shane Spraggs suggests having a plan for career advancement and effective networking
- Prediction of remote-only companies offering more opportunities for career growth
XI. Productivity and Measurement in Remote Work
- Discussion on the challenge of knowing whether a remote worker is busy or not
- Perspective on productivity measurement based on what gets done, not hours worked
- Importance of setting clear boundaries and expectations for remote work
XII. Accountability and Effective Communication Tools
- Introduction to the Days of the Week system for tracking action items and holding people accountable
- Mention of reduced interpersonal drama and issues between departments in remote work
XIII. Coaching Employees for Realistic Deadlines and Expectations
- Importance of managers coaching employees in setting realistic deadlines and expectations
- Managers providing goals while employees figure out how to achieve them
XIV. Comparison between Remote and Co-located Work
- Discussion on the potential distractions and emotional arguments in co-located work
- Objective nature of virtual communication
XV. Promoting Meaningful Conversations and Building Trust in Remote Work
- Importance of encouraging meaningful conversations and building trust in remote work environments
- Use of intentional activities and icebreakers to break down barriers and promote interaction
- The role of a facilitator in team-building events to ensure engagement and involvement
XVI. Effective Onboarding and Company Culture
- Importance of documenting key habits and values of the company for effective onboarding
- Focus on specific values that drive the company culture, rather than broad terms like integrity
XVII. Autonomy, Competency, and Relatedness for Employee Satisfaction
- Application of autonomy, competency, and relatedness to every task to satisfy the self-determination theory
- Importance of 1-on-1 meetings in addressing autonomy, competency, and relatedness for employees
XVIII. Customization and Individualization in Remote Team Management
- Discussion on customization and individualization as key factors in effective management of remote teams
XIX. Future of Remote Work and Career Advancement
- Prediction of more remote-only companies and larger remote-only companies in the future
- Mention of watchlists for potential growth and advancement in larger companies
- Importance of individuals taking ownership of their careers and having a plan for their goals
XX. Considerations for Remote and Hybrid Work Models
- Importance of managing and facilitating remote work for managers and executives in hesitant companies
- Trust as a key factor in considering remote work, with proactive and productive employees likely to perform well at home
- Cost savings associated with remote work
- How the pandemic shaped Shane Spraggs' approach to remote work

Support the show:

Please like, subscribe, leave a review and consider supporting the channel at zero cost or no extra cost to yourself by getting the best tools on the market in their niche:

- Your feedback is vital to improving the show! Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and help to make Business Breaks even better:
Business Breaks - Listener Survey Form
- Subscribe to the email newsletter to receive regular updates and exclusive insights:
Business Breaks Podcast community
- Buy me a coffee (to get a mention on the show):
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dantehealy

- Our list of affiliate partnership deals:
https://businessbreaks.club/brand.html

- For podcast fans who are seeking an enhanced audio experience as well as the opportunity to engage with your favorite podcast hosts:
https://hi.switchy.io/podopolo