ATD Book Helps Managers Navigate the Intricacies of Virtual Employment
(Alexandria, VA), October 8, 2019—With more than 4.3 million employees working from home at least half the time (Global Workplace Analytics 2018), virtual management has become a common occurrence in today’s workplace. Where do managers find the solutions to the traditional and not-so-traditional issues that occur when staff is not co-located? Authors Ben Bisbee and Kathy Wisniewski provide much-needed answers in The Unashamed Guide to Virtual Management.
Bisbee and Wisniewski address critical questions about onboarding and delivering performance reviews as well as handling office romance and doing laundry on the job. “From the mundane to the awkward and comical, we cover it all—more than 80 virtual management topics—because we know managers have to, no matter where they are managing from,” says Bisbee.
In this guide, Bisbee and Wisniewski talk to classic middle managers working virtually or managing one or more virtual team members and offer real solutions to real problems. They present their 4Ps of Virtual Solutions—four critical areas you need to access and address to turn suggestions into workplace practice and policy:
- Purpose: Why do certain topics matter in your virtual workplace?
- Personality: How is the topic at hand best addressed at the human level by your employees and at the organizational level? How is your company’s personality reflected in its approach to the topic?
- Policy: What are the rules or principles associated with the topics at hand? How are they communicated and accessed?
- Process: What is the process to achieve a specific end related to the topic, and what role does technology play?
Bisbee and Wisniewski advise on more than 80 topics, including:
· time zones, flexible schedules, and privacy
· hiring and interviewing, onboarding, and professional development
· team building, morale, and celebrations
· interruptive pets and children, errands, and meetings from the bathroom.
“This book isn’t about creating a one-size-fits-all virtual reality,” explains Wisniewski. “Rather, it provides a wealth of perspectives from different angles. Sometimes the answer managers seek has five different variables. This book offers options to ensure that no matter the virtual management solution or problem, you’ll be able to evaluate its purpose, determine how it fits within your organizational personality, and implement a process to help make it stick.”
About the Authors
Ben Bisbee is a multisector professional with more than 20 years of experience building successful and award-winning community and development programs for organizations of all shapes and sizes. He is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and problem solver, who serves as chief vision officer at Rhinocorn, a design house for nonprofit innovation and advancement projects. Considering himself a social technologist, Bisbee is quickly becoming known for his work in virtual technology and methodologies, helping to build strengthened relationships between humans and the technology they use to work, play, and engage.
Kathy Wisniewski is a nonprofit professional with more than 20 years of experience. Currently serving as the executive board administrator for the Histiocyte Society, she specializes in volunteer and board administration, and scouts, plans, and executes the society’s annual meeting. Kathy is also a certified health coach and owner of True and Lasting Wellness, where she conducts primarily virtual health coaching for nonprofit professionals, helping them discover and reach their health and wellness goals. Both endeavors have honed her virtual management skills and deepened her appreciation for the advantages of technology in being able to reach a larger audience in our virtual world.
About ATD and ATD Press
The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations. ATD’s members come from more than 120 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD Press publications are written by industry thought leaders and offer anyone who works with adult learners the best practices, academic theory, and guidance necessary to move the profession forward. For more information, visit td.org/books.
The Unashamed Guide to Virtual Management
ISBN: 978-1-949036-55-8 | 248 pages | Paperback
td.org/books/the-unashamed-guide-to-virtual-management
To order books from ATD Press, call 800.628.2783.
To schedule an interview with Ben Bisbee or Kathy Wisniewski about their book, please contact Kay Hechler, ATD Press senior marketing manager, at [email protected].
