The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams (Hardcover)

by Kimball Fisher (Author), Mareen Fisher (Author) "DOUG LOEWE IS the European marketing manager for CompuServe, a half-billion-dollar Internet company..." (more)
Key Phrases: distance manager, distance executive, distance leadership, Tip Number, Distance Team Building, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Global business demands and new technologies have created a virtual workplace for many companies, with employees and teams routinely collaborating from distant geographical locations on the road, from home, at client sites--even on the other side of the globe. The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see. This handbook is perfect for sales managers, project team leaders, senior managers, and anyone who manages people at more than one location. Key topics include:
• Using e-mail, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing for maximum effectiveness
• Mastering the people skills required to manage from a distance
• Virtual team building, and strategies for managing multiple locations

From the Back Cover
How do you know you're getting peak performance from people whom you manage at another location?

How do you motivate and communicate with people who work off-site?

How do you coordinate the responsibilities of virtual team?

How do you lead people who don't report to you and may even work for another company?

As the nature of the workplace changes, more and more managers are confronting these challenges. This is the first book that answers them. The Distance Manager draws on the experiences of a cross-section of managers at every corporate level--men and women who themselves have been thrust into the challenging world of distance managing and who have learned to do a tough job well. Some are sales managers, some are field managers, some are production managers. They work for large Fortune 500 corporations and for small technology start-up companies. Now you can benefit from their experiences and hard-won wisdom as you discover the secrets of:

*Inspiring and motivating individuals and teams from afar
*Coaching for peak performance via e-mail, the telephone, teleconferencing and videoconferencing
*Building a cohesive team comprised of workers in different locations
*Managing projects from a distance
*Using the Web to set up effective shared workplaces and files
*Leading people who don't report to you
*Keeping work on track and on time
*And much more!

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071360654
• ISBN-13: 978-0071360654
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, September 17, 2001

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Kimball Fisher and Mareen Duncan Fisher document the special skills needed for the new but increasingly common task of managing far-flung work groups. The approaches that they examine are becoming increasingly essential for all managers. Although they explore relevant technologies carefully, their human relations advice is probably more important. The Fishers emphasize the interpersonal and leadership skills that a manager needs to head a virtual team. If you read this book cover to cover, it can seem repetitive, since many of the rules and tips offered in one area overlap with those in other areas. However, the book is designed to allow you to review specific management challenges and technologies, and to ignore areas that are irrelevant to your situation. We [...] recommend this clear, practical work to anyone who leads virtual teams and to the telecommuters and freelance workers who report to them.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ideas on Distance Management, July 18, 2001

By A Customer

This book presents a new approach to managing people from distance. It also gives clear examples and cases. This book is a must for managers who control their team from distance, either nationwide or global-wide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good guidance on being a distance manager, February 15, 2009

By	Jose Solera (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well organized if not a page turner, this book provides good guidance on what to do as a distance manager, what to watch out for, etc.