9 Great Books on Remote Work and Distributed Teams
Now, that most of us have worked from home for a long time, it's time to reflect back. Companies have gained some more knowledge on how distributed teams can work more efficiently, while keeping mood and spirit up. However, there are always things we can improve. Therefore, we've curated the best books for you to help you set up your team for success.
Remote
Why read?
Remote work increases the talent pool, reduces turnover, lessens the real estate footprint, and improves the ability to conduct business across multiple time zones, to name just a few advantages. As Fried and Hansson explain the challenges and unexpected benefits of this phenomenon, they show why — with a few controversial exceptions such as Yahoo — more businesses will want to promote this model of getting things done.
256 pages, 2013
The Year Without Pants
Why read?
What happens when an old-school management guru leaves the books and lectures behind to lead a young team at a revolutionary company, with no email, no offices, and no rules? The answer is an amazing and entertaining book about the future of work. Employees work remotely, from wherever in the world they wish.
272 pages, 2013
Working Remotely
Why read?
This book identifies the advantages of working from anywhere in the galaxy and explores how workers and employers can optimize productivity, streamline processes, and adopt best practices. If you’re considering working remotely or moving your practice to all all-remote workforce, check out this book for insight and recommendations to help you along the journey.
46 pages, 2014
Working From Home
Why read?
From setting up your virtual office, to time management, to dealing with conference call fatigue, turn remote work into a career powerhouse—even if you live in an apartment. This book has everything you need to know to make the most out of working from home in the new normal so that you and your organization can thrive in a socially-isolated world. Learn how to claim your space, create your environment, and make your career virtually vital without ever entering an office building. With this book, you’ll see how to reimagine your career, realign with your team, and create influence for yourself and others. Working from Home addresses top-of-mind topics: What does collaboration mean now? How can you make sure that your career is neither out of sight nor out of mind even though you’re not going into an office? How to connect on a regular cadence and gain valuable input for projects and new initiatives Don’t Become a ZOOM Zombie: self-care strategies for productivity, sanity, and adaptation to the new normal Adaptation and adoption: how to gain consensus and drive culture, even when everyone is remote What leaders need to know about old-school strategies in a new world order: how to inspire teams even when you can’t be in the same room
208 pages, 2020
Virtual Culture
Why read?
It’s the twenty-first century, yet most companies maintain a twentieth-century corporate culture. Despite instant communication and collaboration through wireless computers and smartphones, employers needlessly rent or own office space. Bryan Miles has a reality check for you: the future of business is virtual, and it’s going to take more than technology upgrades for you to upgrade your workplace environment.
210 pages, 2018
Distributed Teams
Why read?
Drawn from 26+ years working in distributed organizations, this book gathers what did — and did not — work from my own hard-learned lessons,as well as learnings from company founders, hedge fund managers,software developers, data scientists, accountants, book publishers, economists, political organizers, recruiters, military personnel, executive assistants, therapists and medical technicians.
335 pages, 2018
Reinventing Organizations
Why read?
The uplifting message of Reinventing Organizations has resonated with readers all over the world, and they have turned it, one conversation at a time, into a word-of-mouth phenomenon. The book has helped shift the conversation from what’s broken with management today to what’s possible. It is inspiring thousands of organizations — corporations and nonprofits, schools and hospitals — to adopt radically more powerful, soulful, and purposeful practices.
172 pages, 2016
Work Together Anywhere
Why read?
In today’s modern global economy, telecommuting is no longer a novelty. Companies and organizations everywhere are embracing the game-changing benefits of allowing employees to work outside the office, and the results are profound: managers benefit by saving money and resources and by having access to talent outside their zip codes, while employees enjoy greater job opportunities, productivity, independence, and satisfaction — in part from the time saved not commuting. The reality is clear: working remotely can be a win-win for everyone.
519 pages, 2018
Influencing Virtual Teams
Why read?
In Influencing Virtual Teams you’ll get step-by-step tactics that you can implement straightaway with your team to improve your team’s engagement and commitment to doing their work. “Smart, easy to read, and pragmatic. ‘Influencing Virtual Teams’ is now a must-read for all of my clients building remote teams.” - Patrick Linton, Co-Founder, BoltonRemote
68 pages, 2016