Leading From A Distance

From trust to top-down transparency, four ceos share how they successfully lead businesses, build culture and inspire their global workforces – all from afar.

- Anastasia Prikhodko

Remote work has been gaining momentum over the past several years, and the global spread of COVID-19 has forced more businesses to change, adapt, and find ways to operate in this uncertain climate. According to FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics research, remote work grew by 44 per cent over the past five years, while the previous 10 years showed an overall growth of 91 per cent. Although remote work is a new concept for some, it has been the only way forward for others.

THE TRUST ISSUE

CloudPeeps, a platform that enables freelance professionals to find work, is one business that sees remote work as the way of the future.

“To be successful in working remotely, you need to have a solid company culture,” says CloudPeeps CEO and Founder Kate Kendall. “At the heart of this is trust. If you don’t trust your team, you will not be able to create a positive working environment. Trust is essential in any team, but especially in a remote one.”

Businesses need to hire employees who are capable of self-motivation and self-management. “If you have a person who needs someone watching them, then it’s the wrong talent for a remote team,” Kendall says. “You need to reframe how you work. Much remote work can occur asynchronously. You have to get used to not communicating in real-time.”

Part of CloudPeeps’ success is its ability to look after employees. Kendall believes that health, a local support system, friends, family, and workspaces need to be considered. She says it’s not about providing the latest collaboration remote tools but empowering employees in their self-actualisation.