Read this on the web | Subscribe Too hot. Too cold. Just right. This classic framework from Goldilocks and the Three Bears mirrors one of the biggest struggles I see in remote team leadership: finding the right balance in how you manage. When it comes to leading distributed teams, most people fall into one of two extremes. There’s the micromanager: constantly checking in, obsessing over activity, piling on meetings and processes that disrupt more than they help. Then there’s the hands-off manager: the “hire great people and get out of their way” type. It sounds empowering, but in practice, it often leads to confusion, disengagement, and team members feeling unsupported. Neither extreme works well, especially in remote environments. The middle ground, what I call multiplying leadership, isn’t about backing off entirely or controlling every detail. It’s about creating the conditions for your team to do their best work. Your Job Isn’t to Hover or DisappearA question I hear often from managers: “What’s my role if my team is remote?” At first, the question puzzled me. But I’ve come to understand that many leaders haven’t yet learned how to manage without being physically present. They rely on seeing people work to trust that work is happening. They’re unaware of how you’d spark momentum without peer pressure. And they don’t know how to evaluate work other than by tracking time in the office or availability for instant replies. This lack of knowledge forces them to take a false binary approach to remote leadership: micromanage or disappear. Both of which have glaring faults on remote teams. Micromanage, and you become the bottleneck. Disengage, and alignment disappears. Instead, your role as a distributed team leader should be to act as a first line of defense, protecting your team from anything that keeps them from doing the work they were hired to do. You’re not a limiter or a bystander. You’re a multiplier. Create the Conditions for Great WorkForget: “Hire great people and get out of their way.” Try: “Hire great people and be their first line of defense. The best remote leaders act as both shield and support. You’re architecting a virtual environment that allows your team to thrive. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
When you lead this way, you’re not just managing tasks, you’re multiplying impact. You become the pathmaker who clears the way for real work to get done. The “Just Right” Kind of LeadershipAs a remote leader, your job is to create the conditions for great work to happen. That means being your team’s first line of defense against distractions, ambiguity, burnout, and anything else that pulls them away from doing what they were hired to do. Micromanagement kills morale. A hands-off approach breeds confusion. But when you lead like a multiplier and intentionally create space for people to thrive, your team gains clarity, alignment, and the ability to execute at their highest level. By doing your job well, you make everyone else’s work better. That’s the “just right” kind of leadership remote teams need. In Other NewsHow custom GPTs can make you a better manager In Case You Missed ItWhat the Best Remote Teams Do Differently AI Recipe: Discover your Hogwarts House
|
9-5, Monday-Friday, in-person office work are all relics of the past. Let's revolutionize how you live by changing how you work.
If it feels like your team keeps revisiting the same conversations… you’re not alone. Maybe someone asks, “Wait—are we still planning to redesign onboarding this quarter?” Another chimes in, “I thought we were doing the sample data thing first?” Then someone drops a six-week-old Slack thread with four conflicting opinions and no clear final call. I’ve seen this exact conversation play out in almost every remote product team I’ve worked with. It’s not a communication problem. It’s a memory...
Hey there, Just three things this week: 1. Amazon Prime Sale Looking to upgrade your WFH setup during the Prime Day sale? Check out my WFH Amazon Favorites and WFH Gift Guide. Years later, I still use and love everything on those lists. 2. Cooking with AI (Live!) - Happening Today Join me today for our monthly Cooking with AI (Live!) demo event. If you’ve been meaning to catch up on the latest AI features, this is the easiest way. I’ll walk you through 4 quick, no-code recipes: ✅ Make a...
Hey there, This week, I'm sharing a quick recap of my favorite lessons, reads, and shares of the month. We'll be back to the usual articles next week. If you came across anything great this month (whether it’s a book, podcast, or insight) I’d love to hear about it! Just hit reply and share what you loved. PS: Join me next week for our monthly, Cooking with AI (Live!) event to catch up on the latest AI features and see how to actually put them to use. See you there! June 2025 Recap Read this...