Rules for Results When Nobody’s In The Same Room

Businesses large and small find themselves suddenly dislocated due to coronavirus. Employees are working from home (well, sort of!). Vendors can’t make personal sales calls. The office is shuttered. And the manager trying to keep the business running amidst “corona chaos,” is losing her mind! 

Business as usual is not an option. Business failure isn’t either. That’s why you must streamline your methods to manage remotely. 

Granted, I don’t have traditional employees. But I do have dozens of contractual service providers involved with our business and farm. They include: an accountant, attorney, banker(s), temporary office help, farm labor, farm tenant, copy editors, collaborators, various tradesmen, several vendors, printers, agents, and the biggie — a marketing and design company. 

None of these people work in close proximity to me. Most aren’t in the same town or state, with the exception of my business partner wife. Even that’s not guaranteed. My business requires travel (or at least it did back when people were allowed to leave their homes to attend meetings of more than 10 people!). 

Since 1994, I’ve been managing remotely. 

Here are my Rules for Results When Nobody’s In The Same Room

State the Objective

Don’t allow online meetings, calls, or emails to ramble into minutiae. Tell everyone involved what you’re out to accomplish. Now they know what success looks like and can work toward that objective. 

Assign and Monitor Key Tasks 

Once the goal is clear, assign specific tasks. The designer knows her role. The accountant understands his role. But whose job is it to proof the proposal and send it to the client?

Believe it or not, some people are irresponsible. Some people will shirk their assignment then claim they didn’t know it was theirs. Avoid the dog ate my homework excuse of “I didn’t know that was my job” with specification of duty. 

Clear Communication

I don’t talk around a subject in ambiguities. You shouldn’t either. It is possible to be cordial while still being clear and to the point. Everyone’s life and business has been altered due to the pandemic. Don’t make them more uncertain with incoherent or indirect communication. 

Remember, They’re People 

You, me, and millions of others are working to sustain our businesses in the midst of tumult. But don’t forget, those service providers, contractors, and employees you’re shepherding toward an objective are people. Don’t miss an opportunity to be encouraging, appreciative, or understanding. The human touch goes a long way — these are challenging times for all of us. 

Damian Mason is a businessman, keynote speaker, author, podcaster, farmer, and occasional consultant. For books, podcasts, videos, or speaking engagements go to www.damianmason.com