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The Long-Distance Teammate Stay Engaged and Connected Working Anywhere
Full of concrete, real-world examples, this guide is written with both understanding and encouragement--'Maybe you're already feeling this. Some days you feel isolated and alone, ' they offer. With so many office jobs now being done at home, this couldn't have arrived at a better time.
--Publishers Weekly
Even before the coronavirus hit, remote work was growing at nearly 30 percent per year, and now it's just a fact of life. There are many millions of people who once worked at a central location every day who now find themselves facing an entirely new way of working. Written by the founders of the Remote Leadership Institute, this book is the most authoritative single resource for helping remote workers get work done effectively, build relationships that are both productive and satisfying, and maintain a career trajectory when they are not in constant close contact with their leader, coworkers, or the organization in general.
The Long-Distance Teammate tackles three important issues: navigating the personal and interpersonal, growing the skills to be productive, and communicating effectively--all from a distance. In short, there is a big difference between working at home and being an effective member of a team. This practical guide describes that difference and allows you to be a great remote teammate.
--Publishers Weekly
Even before the coronavirus hit, remote work was growing at nearly 30 percent per year, and now it's just a fact of life. There are many millions of people who once worked at a central location every day who now find themselves facing an entirely new way of working. Written by the founders of the Remote Leadership Institute, this book is the most authoritative single resource for helping remote workers get work done effectively, build relationships that are both productive and satisfying, and maintain a career trajectory when they are not in constant close contact with their leader, coworkers, or the organization in general.
The Long-Distance Teammate tackles three important issues: navigating the personal and interpersonal, growing the skills to be productive, and communicating effectively--all from a distance. In short, there is a big difference between working at home and being an effective member of a team. This practical guide describes that difference and allows you to be a great remote teammate.
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
172 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Eikenberry
25 books30 followersKevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent nearly 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more. Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and has been included in many other similar lists. He is the author, co-author or a contributing author to nearly 20 books, including Remarkable Leadership and bestseller From Bud to Boss (with Guy Harris), The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership and The Long-Distance Teammate: Stay Engaged and Connected While Working Anywhere (with Wayne Turmel). His blog is consistently ranked among the world’s best, most read and most shared on leadership. He's also the host of The Remarkable Leadership Podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 13, 2023
Another decent book on remote work -- written for the worker. Good review of best practices and behaviors that won't steer you wrong. Doesn't tell us where remote work is going, just reviews how to get along right now.
April 20, 2021
This is a timely read that many of us can leverage while we are WFH. This book provides important reminders and practical tips that are easy to implement IF you have the discipline. It emphasizes the mindsets, skill sets, and habit sets you need to succeed as a part of a team. Some highlights are:
Three words: teammate, connected, and engaged, are critical to successful, satisfying remote work. There is a difference between a team member and a teammate. Anyone who shares a manager or works on the same project is a team member. A true teammate is something different and deeper than that. To be a teammate implies a social and emotional connection that goes beyond merely who you report to and work with. Being connected as a long-distance teammate means connection to the work, your boss, the direction of the organization, and your fellow teammates; more than just technical connections, but interpersonal ones.
"Engagement isn’t something that is done to you - it is something you choose to do."
The 3 P Model for Remote Work Success: Productivity, Proactivity, Potential
Productivity - getting tasks accomplished is not the same as being productive. By definition, productivity is the measure of work yielding results, benefits, or profits. It is about outcomes, not activity.
Potential - includes considering the long-term implications of your work.
The work may not connect to the work you love or plan, but the way you think about this job today and the way you do the work will have an impact on your long-term success. It’s not just your job. It’s about organizational success. Your job = your work + team work
Once we realize that a momentary feeling of ennui (restlessness) or dissatisfaction is normal, we also know that the reasons fall into a few easily identified categories. We feel like we’re lacking energy, focus, purpose, and useful feedback.
Getting clear expectations include:
- Ask for time to have the conversation.
- Create a series of questions.
- Be clear on what you need.
- Have an open conversation.
- Write the expectations and metrics down.
- Agree and commit.
Ethical Visibility is about making sure that your work is recognized in the context of the team’s work and results. Ethical Visibility is:
About the team’s/organization’s goals, not you. Make sure that you’re using words like “we” and “us.” When making suggestions, put them in the context of what the group is trying to achieve, not how smart you are.
Appropriate to the team culture. Being ethically visible means that you stand your ground and contribute but don’t do it in a way that creates unnecessary tension or conflict within the team.
Supportive and positive. Be aware of others and their feelings—and how you might be impacting them.
Judged by behavior, not intent. This is hard to hear, but just because you didn’t mean to be rude to someone might not mean they don't think you were rude. Take feedback from others on how they want to be communicated with.
Make relationship building a priority. Use multiple communication channels. Listen. Build interaction, not transaction. Ask yourself, “How do I make sure that at the end of our conversations, people feel it was worth their time and they feel valued?” Let them into your world.
Feedback must be heard, understood, accepted and applied. How to Give Feedback as a Teammate:
Once you have agreement, here are a few tips to make the feedback you give more effective:
• Make it a two-way conversation.
• Use the phone or the webcam.
• Slow down.
• Stick to the facts.
• Make it meaningful.
• Be specific.
• Be kind.
• Be timely.
Take care of yourself - If you’re not healthy, motivated, engaged, and relatively sane, it’s difficult to be productive, be proactive, or think about the potential of your work.
Manage your learning and growth - make it a priority and schedule the time. Invest in you!
Three words: teammate, connected, and engaged, are critical to successful, satisfying remote work. There is a difference between a team member and a teammate. Anyone who shares a manager or works on the same project is a team member. A true teammate is something different and deeper than that. To be a teammate implies a social and emotional connection that goes beyond merely who you report to and work with. Being connected as a long-distance teammate means connection to the work, your boss, the direction of the organization, and your fellow teammates; more than just technical connections, but interpersonal ones.
"Engagement isn’t something that is done to you - it is something you choose to do."
The 3 P Model for Remote Work Success: Productivity, Proactivity, Potential
Productivity - getting tasks accomplished is not the same as being productive. By definition, productivity is the measure of work yielding results, benefits, or profits. It is about outcomes, not activity.
Potential - includes considering the long-term implications of your work.
The work may not connect to the work you love or plan, but the way you think about this job today and the way you do the work will have an impact on your long-term success. It’s not just your job. It’s about organizational success. Your job = your work + team work
Once we realize that a momentary feeling of ennui (restlessness) or dissatisfaction is normal, we also know that the reasons fall into a few easily identified categories. We feel like we’re lacking energy, focus, purpose, and useful feedback.
Getting clear expectations include:
- Ask for time to have the conversation.
- Create a series of questions.
- Be clear on what you need.
- Have an open conversation.
- Write the expectations and metrics down.
- Agree and commit.
Ethical Visibility is about making sure that your work is recognized in the context of the team’s work and results. Ethical Visibility is:
About the team’s/organization’s goals, not you. Make sure that you’re using words like “we” and “us.” When making suggestions, put them in the context of what the group is trying to achieve, not how smart you are.
Appropriate to the team culture. Being ethically visible means that you stand your ground and contribute but don’t do it in a way that creates unnecessary tension or conflict within the team.
Supportive and positive. Be aware of others and their feelings—and how you might be impacting them.
Judged by behavior, not intent. This is hard to hear, but just because you didn’t mean to be rude to someone might not mean they don't think you were rude. Take feedback from others on how they want to be communicated with.
Make relationship building a priority. Use multiple communication channels. Listen. Build interaction, not transaction. Ask yourself, “How do I make sure that at the end of our conversations, people feel it was worth their time and they feel valued?” Let them into your world.
Feedback must be heard, understood, accepted and applied. How to Give Feedback as a Teammate:
Once you have agreement, here are a few tips to make the feedback you give more effective:
• Make it a two-way conversation.
• Use the phone or the webcam.
• Slow down.
• Stick to the facts.
• Make it meaningful.
• Be specific.
• Be kind.
• Be timely.
Take care of yourself - If you’re not healthy, motivated, engaged, and relatively sane, it’s difficult to be productive, be proactive, or think about the potential of your work.
Manage your learning and growth - make it a priority and schedule the time. Invest in you!
August 12, 2020
A Great Resource
If you need a team this is a must read for you. If you need a team remotely this book becomes an absolutely essential part of your toolbox. It asks answers all the right questions and will help you to begin the process of developing and creating strategies and development plans that will truly take you and your team where they need to be.
If you need a team this is a must read for you. If you need a team remotely this book becomes an absolutely essential part of your toolbox. It asks answers all the right questions and will help you to begin the process of developing and creating strategies and development plans that will truly take you and your team where they need to be.
June 27, 2021
A lot of good tenets of how to communicate that are essential to an effective organization in here. Worth the read if only to reinforce good habits.
June 30, 2025
So bland it was like 200 pages of crappy sponsored blog content about maintaining effective work life balance.
July 13, 2023
Book about remote working started before Covid-19 hit, that is more relevant now than ever, with hybrid and remote work opportunities. And I would say also on-site. Part of the Leadership Humble Bundle a while back. Got around to it only just now.
To say motivated and help dissolve the dark clouds of negative self-talk due to speculation on the feedback, actually ping the relevant person and ask if it looks good. The worst is you get to redo some of it, but more likely you get an inspirational confirmation that you did good.
Take care of yourself. You can do home chores during your breaks. You take a break at looking at a screen and sitting down, while also benefiting your family. Remote work means that you also need to take care of your working space, sitting, large monitor, room for a table. Also don't forget to go outside once in a while. Visit a friend, pub, cinema, spa. And not to feel nagging, but also do some of your favorite sport-like activities.
The three P-s they mention:
Productivity - Any team member can focus on their tasks and produce good work, but a great teammate will get the best work done in the time allotted and help the rest of his team and organization.
Proactivity - Getting the right stuff done. Being proactive at work means keeping an eye out for obstacles in the distance and taking preemptive action to manage them. This behavior is especially valuable when working remotely, as it builds trust and demonstrates a sincere commitment to working well.
Potential - It refers to thinking about the long-term effects of your actions, and how they fit in with your goals and the goals of your teammates. That these small opportunities offer rewards down the line and affect how your teammates perceive you.
To say motivated and help dissolve the dark clouds of negative self-talk due to speculation on the feedback, actually ping the relevant person and ask if it looks good. The worst is you get to redo some of it, but more likely you get an inspirational confirmation that you did good.
Take care of yourself. You can do home chores during your breaks. You take a break at looking at a screen and sitting down, while also benefiting your family. Remote work means that you also need to take care of your working space, sitting, large monitor, room for a table. Also don't forget to go outside once in a while. Visit a friend, pub, cinema, spa. And not to feel nagging, but also do some of your favorite sport-like activities.
The three P-s they mention:
Productivity - Any team member can focus on their tasks and produce good work, but a great teammate will get the best work done in the time allotted and help the rest of his team and organization.
Proactivity - Getting the right stuff done. Being proactive at work means keeping an eye out for obstacles in the distance and taking preemptive action to manage them. This behavior is especially valuable when working remotely, as it builds trust and demonstrates a sincere commitment to working well.
Potential - It refers to thinking about the long-term effects of your actions, and how they fit in with your goals and the goals of your teammates. That these small opportunities offer rewards down the line and affect how your teammates perceive you.
March 1, 2021
A clear, persuasive book on what you need to work successfully from a remote location -- where most of us still working as a result of the pandemic. At the heart of the authors' approach is their "3-P model," Productivity, Proactivity, and Potential. The idea is that you are responsible for your engagement, not someone else, that you are in charge of your work day, not your long-distance boss, and that you are also in charge of thinking about the long-term, not someone else. It's all cogent advice, especially now, during the pandemic.
In the heart of this book is a wonderful list of things to keep in mind to bolster your (long-distance0 relationships: make it a priority, use multiple channels, make time for conversation, listen, ask more questions, know what they are working on, build interaction, not transaction, let them into your world, find the right boundaries, assume positive intent, and go first.
That list alone is worth the book.
In the heart of this book is a wonderful list of things to keep in mind to bolster your (long-distance0 relationships: make it a priority, use multiple channels, make time for conversation, listen, ask more questions, know what they are working on, build interaction, not transaction, let them into your world, find the right boundaries, assume positive intent, and go first.
That list alone is worth the book.
January 7, 2023
This book came to me at the right time. I found this in the library, when I decided to work from there because working from home was far too distracting and difficult. It gave me the correct frame of mind to become engaged at work, while learning how to communicate, set boundaries and become a better teammate. For the first time I felt I had guidance and a set of rules as opposed to awkwardly finding my way through, and I am grateful. I took my time to read this one. Working from home requires a whole new set of skills, and I appreciate that the book also covered how to take care of yourself and your personal life while at it. Highly recommend to anyone who feels disconnected from their work, or find themselves unable to maintain a sustainable routine.
July 14, 2021
The idea of the book is not new at all, but the author did a good job in connecting, summarizing, and synthesizing many existing ideas into a clear guideline for readers to improve their WFH quality. Working remotely brings new challenges when it comes to connecting with your teammates, but you can overcome these obstacles and be a supportive member of the team. Get in the right mindset by staying aware of your role within the larger organization and the goals you want to achieve. Use clear and open communication to form connections and ensure your accomplishments are recognized. Then, you can realize that "out of sight" doesn't necessarily mean "out of mind"!
December 6, 2020
This is a great book for the time we are in. With so many people moving to Working from Home, this book is well written with ways that you can be a better teammate for a remote team. It will help you to understand who you are as a teammate but also helps you to understand how others may feel. Really appreciated the information in this book!
December 11, 2020
The Long-Distance Teammate is the next installment in the dynamic and amazingly helpful "long-distance" series. It's practical approach and real-world application is second to none. As a leader - who greatly benefited from The Long-Distance Leader - this is a great new tool to help my teams excel! Thank you for this timely guidance during these unprecedented times.
July 8, 2022
This book is a no-nonsense book for anyone who leads or is on a remote team. The tips that Kevin and Wayne provide are applicable and well-thought out. With many people moving into some aspect of remote or hybrid working teams this is the must-read book for this year.
December 7, 2022
I would recommend anyone who works remotely to read this book. One of the best resources I have encountered about remote work. Full of tips on how to be more engaged with your team. I have already put a lot of the advice into practice.
January 18, 2022
Great book about taking the remote working environment up a notch. Great reminders of how to work together whole apart. Well written with plenty of big picture ideas as well as specific tips you can apply right away. Timely read.
March 20, 2022
It's mostly common sense and things you probably should have been doing but then got lazy and sloppy and into your routine. Back to the office may be a big awakening for some, even if it is only so many days a week.
January 18, 2024
I highly recommend this book to anyone who work remotely as a teammate or team leader. I find it stimulating from many aspects especially if you feel yourself stucked in the new WFH world. There are valuable advices and useful side notes for every professional, I believe.
May 30, 2020
Nice structured and engaging
Straight on the topic with good examples and easy reading style. Definitely a good place to star this topic exploration.
Straight on the topic with good examples and easy reading style. Definitely a good place to star this topic exploration.
January 18, 2021
The reflection questions at the end of the chapters are good triggers for processing the chapter's key themes.
January 28, 2021
What an awesome read. I enjoyed it thoroughly cover to cover.
February 22, 2021
This was a very timely read. No earth shattering revelations, but well laid out with good ideas and examples of how to improve your work at home environment.
March 14, 2021
Helpful with the personal/internal preparation needed to succeed with remote work.
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April 9, 2021Read a summary of the book from getAbstract
April 12, 2021
Audio book :(
April 12, 2021
Apply two boxes. One on your own works. Extend to another one, team related.
November 12, 2021
Good for noise and talks a lot about communication and the different ways to get messages across via various medias.
April 27, 2022
Recommend for a workplace book club. Chapters are short and easy, concepts are clear and simply presented.
February 7, 2023
I’ve been WFH off the last 15 years (way before pandemic!) and appreciated the tangible takeaways from this book.
Would be great for a remote or hybrid team book club.
Would be great for a remote or hybrid team book club.
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February 10, 2023Non fiction - no rating
February 27, 2023
Informative & very helpful for those working remotely or in a hybrid set up.
July 16, 2023
What did i just read?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews