Manage Smarter 262 — Navigating Remote Work Challenges with Marjorie Hook

HOSTED BY C. LEE SMITH AND AUDREY STRONG
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Marjorie Hook is the Vice President of People and Culture for Openly, where she focuses on the employee life cycle and sustaining a world-​class remote culture. With over 15 years of experience leading people functions for both large tech companies and high-​growth tech startups, Marjorie brings a wealth of knowledge in managing remote teams and fostering a cohesive work environment. 

She joined Openly in 2022 and has been instrumental in implementing innovative strategies to enhance employee engagement and productivity in a fully remote setting.

In this podcast for sales managers and executive leadership, Audrey Strong, C. Lee Smith and Marjorie Hook discuss:

Building a Remote Culture that Works

Creating a cohesive remote culture requires intentional efforts to build connection, trust, and clear communication. Utilize collaboration tools and establish clear goals and expectations to ensure everyone is aligned and engaged.

Handling Difficult Conversations

Managers need to be observant and sensitive when having difficult conversations over Zoom. It's crucial to create a space that allows for processing and follow-​up, replicating the in-​person experience as much as possible.

Tips for Using Slack Effectively

Establish standards for using Slack to avoid miscommunication and ensure it’s used appropriately for quick information sharing rather than major decision-​making. Managers should step in when conversations become unproductive or heated.

Managing Time Zones

For teams spread across different time zones, establish core working hours that overlap and use the end caps of the day for individual work. This ensures effective communication and collaboration despite geographical differences.

Proactively Addressing Employee Burnout

Remote work can lead to higher levels of burnout and loneliness. Managers should look for signs of stress and provide support and resources to help employees maintain their mental health and well-being.

"In a remote workplace, everything has to be a little bit more explicit."

Marjorie Hook

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