Seven Keys to Leading and Managing Virtual Workers

While the WFA (work from anywhere) movement was growing before COVID, it exploded in growth during the pandemic. For many workers, virtual work was no longer an option. Workers often struggled to adjust to this new reality.

Leaders often struggled as well. Many had never led someone they only see on a screen. Many only knew the word “Zoom” to be associated with a fast car. During this new reality, I’ve had many leaders ask me how to manage or lead workers who no longer are physically present in the workplace.

I began leading virtual workers several years ago. I have been a consummate student attempting to learn this new world. I engaged with Belay (it was known as EA Help when I first worked with them) since they offered a virtual workforce that included assistants, bookkeepers, and webmasters. Indeed, I contracted for one of their workers many years ago. It was one of the best work decisions I’ve ever made. 

So, what have I learned? My brief list is not exhaustive, but it does represent some of the major points I have learned over the past several years. I see these seven repeated consistently. 

1. Focus on productivity more than hours. So much of the office life of the past 50 years has been patterned after the industrial era. Punching a clock and putting in hours has become the metric by which we measure work. That reality is changing rapidly. We can’t monitor the presence of virtual workers like do workers in a physical office. Ask the question, “What did you get done…