Remote Leadership

3.5 stars.

This was a really insightful read that paired well with another book I've been reading lately, "Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance." The covid-19 pandemic certainly changed many a business's standard MO, and "Remote Leadership" does an excellent job at chronicling:
- Pachter's (and his company's) own pivot to remote work during that time (still ongoing!)
- challenges they and many others face as the pandemic goes on (and as we all look ahead to post-pandemic life).

The book calls leaders to task, in a good way, and provides practical ways to encourage those they work with to thrive in, dare I say it, unprecedented times.

Pachter and I do approach life, religion, etc. from divergent points of view. and that was very apparent at times (and there was some language, as well). But, I really appreciated the ultimate message and came away with quite a few lessons I can put to use right away.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a timely book for the Post-Covid era businesses find themselves in. Pachter, one of the founders of JumpCrew, takes you on the journey they started with a growing business dealing with the realities of a business calamity not of their choosing. Pachter is refreshingly honest with his thought process before, during and now emerging from the calamity of 2020. He wasn't for WFH (Work From Home) and couldn't see the merit. He admits to sharing many the thoughts of many executives about office-only work and the need for controlling face-t0-face interactions. As the world emerges to a new normal, Pachter candidly discusses how he is dealing with a new paradigm.

This paradigm is going to be different from the past. Those executives and businesses who succeed in the future will have to adapt to the new normal. They will have to understand that Top-down Leadership is going to look a little different. How they direct will have to be more teamwork, community focused than a Do-As-I-Say direction so common in pre-Covid structures. IF they don't adapt, they will find themselves managing a much smaller team that will eventually burn itself out and self-destruct from the inside.

Pachter states the new WFH employee is, in fact, the CEO of their own selves. The WFH employee is also forced to adapt to a world where they set the pace of their achievements. It will force them to become self-starters, creators of their own deadlines and expectations. No longer will there be a manager leaning over their shoulders urging them to complete a project, meet a deadline or giving them encouragement. The manager will be leading virtually, from afar. Team meetings will be done over video and actual physical meetings are going to become exceptions rather than the norm.

Pachter shares his 3 Pillars of Great Remote Organizations and explains each in his book. Remote organizations will need to develop Reflective Leadership, a Coaching Culture and Mindset, and a place that promotes Peer Learning. Our world was moving slowly towards these pillars, but now organizations that succeed will have to adopt the pillars to succeed.

This book is a must read for executives and leaders of any organization. Throughout the book, you will receive nuggets that you can incorporate into your new normal.

A useful book for leaders especially, but also employees, to understand more about doing business in the current world. Remote work isn't going away, and this book provides an understanding of the advantages, and disadvantages, while also providing strategies, examples and recommendations. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.