MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Embrace Delegation as a Skill to Strengthen Remote Teams

In our ever-growing remote work culture, teams are increasingly vulnerable to virtual distance. Its three dimensions — physical, operational, and affinity distance — play critical roles in how well teams work together in a virtual environment and, particularly, in how managers delegate. Physical distance relates to the geographic distance between workers, while operational distance characterizes organizational processes that have the potential to facilitate or impede team collaboration. Affinity distance describes a sense of emotional and mental connection between individuals as a result of familiarity, interdependence, and a sense of shared purpose in the organization.

Managers of remote teams who improve their delegation skills can address virtual distance — the biggest impediment to their success — by leveraging delegation as a tool to close the gaps in physical, operational, and affinity distance.

About the Author

Lebene Soga is a lecturer in entrepreneurship and leadership at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School. Benjamin Laker (@drbenlaker) is a professor of leadership at Henley and coauthor of the new book Too Proud to Lead: How Hubris Can Destroy Effective Leadership and What to Do About It (Bloomsbury, 2021). Yemisi Bolade-Ogunfodun is a lecturer in organizational behavior at Henley. Marcello Mariani is a professor of entrepreneurship and management at Henley.

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