From the Ask Tom mailbag:
Question:
I am a Regional Manager, responsible for seven locations across the Midwest. I feel I have the ability to manage effectively without talking to my team on a daily basis. But, at times, I feel as if I am not in touch with their issues, challenges or daily routines. In fact, some are not even “available” for lunch or dinner when I am in town. Have I lost touch? Can you recommend a book to read, symposium to attend to improve my management skills? What has been your experience in managing people in multiple locations?
Response:
Thank you for your question. Reading a book will not solve your problem. Staying in touch with your location managers is tough when face-to-face meetings are not frequent. It’s tough, but not impossible.
First, create a master schedule of all the touches for the next six months. This includes face-to-face meetings, conference calls, 1-1 coaching calls, birthday cards and handwritten notes that are snail-mailed.
Ask your location managers what interaction is the most helpful, how you can provide the best support for them. Each person is different and may require a different frequency and kind of touch.
Tomorrow, I will talk about that in-town dinner your managers are not “available” for, but in the meantime, let’s open this up for posted comments. As a manager, how do you stay in touch with out of town direct reports, to support their issues, challenges and daily routines? -TF
I am not a manager, but I do regularly read the posts here with interest.
Regarding keeping in touch with team members, like Tom said, “Create a master schedule …” Involving team members in creating a master schedule would be a good idea as well. Since each location has a manager, they should be responsible for daily issues, challenges or routines. Although you should know about their daily issues, challenges or routines, it is not your responsibility. If it was then you are doing what the area manager should be doing.
The master schedule talked about earlier could include a weekly/monthly report by the area managers to discuss or keep you informed. May be a weekly report sent to you by email and a monthly meeting face-to-face.
In-town dinners would probably only work if the dinners are not just to discuss work. May be if these dinner are more of a social event, then it would be bit more interesting and this would also give you as the regional manager to know the area manager at a personal level.