Managing Remote Teams Video Series with Adam Pisk
The Modern Leader's Guide to High-Performing Remote Teams
As a leader of a remote team, you've likely experienced the disconnect. You see heads nodding on a video call, but the follow-through is inconsistent. Communication feels like a constant effort, and you're left wondering if your team is truly aligned and engaged.
"This is a common challenge in the world of remote work, but it’s not unsolvable. Adam Pisk, co-founder of BruntWork, has navigated these complexities while scaling his company to over 6,500 staff in 45 countries."
Through this experience, he developed a powerful leadership model that moves away from the friction of micromanagement and toward a "self-managing flywheel" a system where clarity fosters ownership, and ownership drives outstanding results.
In his insightful three-part video series, Adam shares a practical blueprint for any leader looking to build a more productive, loyal, and engaged remote team. Here are the key takeaways.
Part 1: Building a Foundation of Trust & Cultural Intelligence
Effective remote management starts with people, not platforms. This session focuses on the essential human elements that build a strong and resilient team culture.
You can also watch the video here
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Understanding Key Cultural Drivers: Adam highlights the importance of appreciating the cultural nuances that influence your team, such as differing views on Hierarchy, Time, and Family Obligations. Understanding this context helps bridge communication gaps and prevents simple misunderstandings.
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Fostering Connection with "Working With Me" Profiles: A practical tool to build rapport quickly. By sharing a simple profile of your own work preferences, you create a safe space for your team members to do the same. It’s a simple gesture that builds a foundation of mutual understanding.
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Improving Clarity with the "Write-First" Rule: To ensure everyone is on the same page, Adam suggests a "write-first" approach for complex topics. This allows team members time to process their thoughts and formulate ideas clearly, leading to more productive discussions and better outcomes.
Part 2: Creating Accountability Without Micromanagement
Trust and high standards should go hand-in-hand. This part of the series provides the framework for ensuring performance and accountability in a supportive, empowering way.
You can also watch the video here
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Defining Success with Outcome-Based OKRs: Shift the focus from hours worked to results achieved. By setting clear Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), you provide your team with a scoreboard for success. This empowers them to take ownership of their role and its impact on the business.
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Structuring Success with the 30-60-90 Onboarding Plan: Provide a clear path for new hires to become valuable contributors. This phased approach focuses first on learning (Days 1-30), then on practice (Days 31-60), and finally on contribution and process improvement (Days 61-90).
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Maintaining Visibility Through Daily Snapshots: Keep a pulse on progress without helicoptering. A brief daily update on wins and priorities in a shared channel offers a simple way to celebrate achievements, stay aligned, and spot potential roadblocks early.
Part 3: Mastering Elite Communication & Continuous Engagement
With a foundation of trust and accountability, the final step is to refine the daily flow of communication and engagement. This is about creating systems that feel both efficient and deeply human.
You can also watch the video here
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Establishing Clear Rules with a Communication Charter: This document serves as a guide for your team on how, when, and where to communicate. It defines expectations for response times and outlines which tools to use for different scenarios, reducing digital noise and confusion.
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Reducing Unnecessary Meetings with the Communication Pyramid: Adam introduces a practical framework for escalating communication, from shared documents for asynchronous review to live calls only when absolutely necessary. This respectful approach values your team's focus time and leads to more purposeful meetings.
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Building Community Through Intentional Engagement: Remote work doesn't have to feel isolating. Adam shares simple, effective ideas for fostering a sense of belonging, from dedicated chat channels for pets and food to a "Lessons Learned" forum that encourages a culture of continuous improvement.
A Practical Path Forward
Ultimately, Adam’s approach comes down to a simple, powerful formula:
Cultural Intelligence + Trust + Accountability + Elite Communication = A Thriving Remote Team