{"id":3244,"date":"2020-03-10T04:46:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T08:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-alexis.monville.com\/en\/?p=3244"},"modified":"2026-01-25T10:31:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T15:31:26","slug":"when-your-team-is-distributed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-alexis.monville.com\/en\/2020\/03\/10\/when-your-team-is-distributed\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading Distributed Teams: Collaboration Across Time Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Distributed teams are no longer a special case. For many organizations, they are the default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while tools make remote work possible, they do not automatically make collaboration easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this episode of Le Podcast on Emerging Leadership<\/em>, John Poelstra<\/strong>, Michael Doyle<\/strong>, and I explore what it takes to lead and work effectively in distributed teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A conversation across 15 time zones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This conversation took place while we were spread across 15 time zones<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • John Poelstra in Portland, Oregon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Michael Doyle in Brisbane, Australia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • and myself in Boston, Massachusetts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The episode is republished from John\u2019s show, and the format itself reflects the reality we discuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Beyond efficiency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Rather than focusing only on efficiency, we explore distributed work as a leadership challenge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We discuss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • how collaboration changes when people are not co-located<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • why clarity becomes even more important in distributed contexts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • how trust is built when interactions are mostly asynchronous<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • what leaders need to let go of when teams are not physically present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Distributed teams make invisible issues visible. Assumptions, habits, and gaps in communication surface quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Practices that support remote collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Throughout the conversation, we share practical approaches to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • improve communication across time zones<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • reduce unnecessary meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • create shared understanding through writing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • support autonomy without isolation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        These practices help teams stay aligned without resorting to micromanagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        A final invitation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If you are working in or leading a distributed team, this episode offers grounded perspectives drawn from real experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you would like to exchange ideas or approaches around remote facilitation and distributed collaboration, feel free to reach out. I\u2019m always happy to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n