Kevin Eikenberry - The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership

Praise for The Long-Distance Leader

Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel have teamed up to produce the single best guide on remote leadership on the market today. Based on research with real-life practicing managers, The Long-Distance Leader offers nineteen rules that guide remote leaders through the most pressing challenges they face everything from the best use of technology, to effective long-distance coaching, to achieving goals, to building trust at a distance. And even if you arent a long-distance leader, at least not yet, you will definitely want to have this book handy. As the authors rightfully acknowledge and our research supports, you have to think leadership first, location second. The engaging stories, the practical wisdom, and the reflection and action questions will help you improve your leadership wherever you and your followers are.

Jim Kouzes, coauthor of the bestselling The Leadership Challenge and Dean's Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

Finally, a superb leadership book with a purpose: dealing with the challenges of long-distance leadership. A must-read for leaders of all organizations dealing with the increasing demand for and challenge of long-distance leadership. As global economies force more and more organizations to deal with this leadership challenge, this book provides a well-thought-out and practical guide you will want all your leaders to inculcate.

Major General David Ralston (US Army, Retired)

When I discuss what a leader is with midlevel managers, this book will be on the reference list for them. They can assess themselves on the leadership skills ladder, establish goals, and work directly with their managers and mentors. I particularly like the check-in section... I find my development participants increase their impact and performance with the knowledge they have a voice and are thought about, even though their leaders might physically see them only once a year... A practical approach to the journey of success as a remote leader... We should all consider what skill we are going to focus on today.

Alicia Davis, Director, Global Finance Learning and Development, Dell Inc.

Leaders who are determined to make an impact in the fiercely complex world of the 21st century will benefit greatly from the insights and principles in the The Long-Distance Leader.

Doug Conant, founder and CEO, ConantLeadership; Chairman, Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute, Northwestern University; former Chairman, Avon Products; and former CEO, Campbell Soup Company

Leadership isnt easy. Working remotely adds a new dynamic. The practical tips in this book give readers the edge they need to be successful leading remote teams. Many teams struggle with communication; add the component that you have remote employees and it gets more difficult. The tools in this book give you what you need to be a better leader, as well as the competitive advantage to get the most out of your remote teams.

Marcie Van Note, MBA Director, Mount Mercy University

Wayne and Kevins book offers the reader a solid foundation in leadership in any circumstance and layers it with virtual leadership or leadership at a distance. It is full of nuance and nudges that will help you navigate through the labyrinths of leading at a distance. I especially appreciated the snippets where Wayne and Kevin reveal their ways of working together; this added a very real and personal touch. I encourage you to purchase the book, study the rules, reflect on their questions, put the book into practice, and become a leader who can go the distance.

David Zinger, founder and host of the Employee Engagement Network

Great book. Spot-on timewise. Moving from managing people to leading people has never been more relevant when overnight everything we do as a business could change. A manager manages people; a leader employs great people and trusts them to achieve amazing results.

Ann Andrews, CSP, author of Lessons in Leadership

Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership

Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel

The Long-Distance Leader

Copyright 2018 by The Kevin Eikenberry Group
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Ordering information for print editions
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First Edition
Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-9461-5
PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9462-2
IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9463-9

2018-1

Interior design and production: Dovetail Publishing Services
Cover design and production: Adrian Morgan
Cover photo: SkillUp/Shutterstock.com

This book is dedicated to our teammates at The Kevin Eikenberry Group and Remote Leadership Institute for being our inspiration, our support, and occasionally our lab rats. You are all truly remarkable.

Principle comes first; action thereafter.

Todd Stocker, speaker and pastor

The best place to start is at the beginning. We dont want you to search for or try to surmise the premise of this book.

Our premise:

Leading a team at a distance is first and foremost about leadership, and the principles of leadership havent changedthey are principles. What has changed is that people are working in different places and perhaps at different times. Given those changes, how we apply the timeless principles of leadership in this new world matters a great dealfor the team members working at a distance, for you as their leader, and for the organization that you all serve.

This book is about both the principles and the nuances that matter so much.

While there are adjustments we need to make to lead in a world with more distance between team members, there is far more that wont change. We plan to show you the principles