Remote work has become increasingly common over the past few years, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While many companies adapted their operations for remote employees out of necessity, others have built successful remote-first cultures from the ground up.
Lamar Romero, CEO and Co-Founder of Hire Dragons, has over 12 years of experience building and managing a fully remote company in the beer, wine, and liquor tasting industry.
Recently, Lamar shared insights on establishing a thriving remote work culture, covering the following aspects:
Setting the Right Culture from Day One
According to Lamar, remote work starts with having employees that are truly capable of working independently. He notes that while many think remote work is ideal, some struggle with aspects like time management and minimized distractions.
Lamar looks for candidates that have a dedicated home office space conducive to focused work. As he states, “I’m not just talking about a notebook computer and a printer, I’m talking about an actual culture of going into an office within their home or apartment where they can get quiet time and actually get to work.”
He also recommends asking candidates outright if they enjoy remote work and have done it before. As Lamar advises, “If the answer is no, then kind of give them some of the guidelines around what it’s like to work from home—you have to be able to find quiet time, minimize distractions, etc.”
Setting these expectations from the start helps build a remote culture where employees are truly set up for success.
Focus on Deliverables, Not Job Descriptions
Lamar emphasizes that remote jobs today should focus on objective deliverables rather than more subjective job descriptions. He utilizes OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to structure transparent expectations.
As Lamar explains, “It’s basically knowing how to run a meeting on a weekly basis and really get things done in a way that the meeting is not boring and you understand what you’re supposed to be doing that week.” Tying into quarterly and yearly goals, this methodology provides a clear roadmap.
Lamar adds, “Everybody’s got their tasks, everybody knows what they need to be doing for the greater good. Breaking down those tasks is what’s really important in order to kind of achieve those yearly, quarterly, weekly goals.” With measurable deliverables as the focus, remote employees can thrive.
Respecting Boundaries and Clear Communication
While remote work allows flexibility, Lamar emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding when it comes to boundaries and expectations.
As a founder running a 24/7 business, his own hours may be irregular. However, he’s conscious that late-night emails aren’t meant to demand immediate responses from his team. As he notes, remote workers need reasonable boundaries respected.
At the same time, consistent all-hands communication is essential. Lamar schedules virtual weekly meetings where remote employees come together for progress reports and collaborative planning.
He states, “Those weekly interactions are very important when we’re not working together and seeing each other every day.” Keeping team cohesion strong with inclusive virtual meetings helps the remote culture stay engaged.
By following these tips, companies can build cohesive and productive remote teams for the long-term. As remote work evolves from an emergency measure to a deliberate strategy, insights from experienced leaders like Lamar Romero will be key to success. With thoughtful preparation and management, the remote workforce of the future promises greater opportunities for both employers and employees.
To learn more about Lamar Romero and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile.
