Re:Running a Business With Staff Scattered Around the World
by pinaceae on Thursday September 06, 2012 @01:24AM
(#4482966)
I work for a global start-up. Currently 350 people all over the world, incl. NZ and LT.
We have a mix, we do have offices in major markets but people scattered all over the place.
Located in Central Europe, I run a team of 3 people, all in different countries, one even one hour away (timezone wise). I report to someone in the SF bay area.
How do we pull it off:
- When going into a new region we establish ownership. One general manager who owns it, who most importantly from now on works in this timezone. No matter where he/she lives, it is the customers and team that matters
- We run on the Google App Stack. Google Chat is my second home. GoToMeeting my third.
- Scheduling things is important. Regular talks with your team, etc. If it is not in people´s calendar, you cannot assume to just "walk by to chat" for important topics.
- English is the corporate language, we do not hire anybody who is not capable of holding a conversation in English. Be it Europe, China or Japan. Our internal documentation is in English. Our customers operate in the same way.
- As a manager: very flexible work hours. a fine ear/eye for issues and conflicts. awareness of cultural differences on communication and perception.
We have a mix, we do have offices in major markets but people scattered all over the place.
Located in Central Europe, I run a team of 3 people, all in different countries, one even one hour away (timezone wise). I report to someone in the SF bay area.
How do we pull it off:
- When going into a new region we establish ownership. One general manager who owns it, who most importantly from now on works in this timezone. No matter where he/she lives, it is the customers and team that matters
- We run on the Google App Stack. Google Chat is my second home. GoToMeeting my third.
- Scheduling things is important. Regular talks with your team, etc. If it is not in people´s calendar, you cannot assume to just "walk by to chat" for important topics.
- English is the corporate language, we do not hire anybody who is not capable of holding a conversation in English. Be it Europe, China or Japan. Our internal documentation is in English. Our customers operate in the same way.
- As a manager: very flexible work hours. a fine ear/eye for issues and conflicts. awareness of cultural differences on communication and perception.