TOP TIPS FOR MANAGING FROM A DISTANCE

1. Match the medium to the message.  Use email for information sharing, make face-to-face, video-conference and Telephone contact for sensitive issues.

2. Recognise that staff need regular, enthusiastic contact to keep them motivated.

3. Be prepared to travel.  Meeting and greeting spreads the message and means problems can be spotted early.

4. Embrace technology.  Skype will work well once you have established working relationships.

5. Judge employees on what they produce, not necessarily how long they spend doing it.

6. Find ways of bringing staff together in informal contexts to help stimulate ideas and teamwork.