--- title: "The Remote Work Series: Define the Work Before the People" description: "Now that you are unbounded by physical boundaries, you have the opportunity to remove some of the mental filters around who does what in your organization. Take this time when everyone is #remoteworking create new opportunities for your teams. Shuffle some of the teams around so that you can get different perspectives. In the video I talk about “human sensors” like having sensors in your car? 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[Student Data Policy](https://www.edelements.com/student-data-policy-management) - [AI for Educators](https://www.edelements.com/ai-for-educators) - [Resources](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-define-the-work-before-the-people#) Show submenu for Resources - [About us](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-define-the-work-before-the-people#) Show submenu for About us - [Our Impact](https://www.edelements.com/ourimpact) - [About us](https://www.edelements.com/edelements-about-us) - [Contact us](https://www.edelements.com/get-a-consultation) - [B2B Partners](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-define-the-work-before-the-people#) Show submenu for B2B Partners - [Curriculum Partners](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-define-the-work-before-the-people#) Show submenu for Curriculum Partners - [ReadWorks](https://www.edelements.com/readworks-overview-ed-elements) - [Great First Eight](https://www.edelements.com/great-first-eight-stand-for-children-and-education-elements-fulfillment-partner) [ Get a Consultation ](https://www.edelements.com/get-a-consultation) ![](https://www.edelements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Files/The%20Remote%20Work%20Series%20Define%20the%20Work%20Before%20the%20People%20Blog%20Header.jpg?width=1600&height=600&name=The%20Remote%20Work%20Series%20Define%20the%20Work%20Before%20the%20People%20Blog%20Header.jpg) # The Remote Work Series: Define the Work Before the People Published: April 21, 2020 Read Time: 3 min [Organizational Leadership & Change Management](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/organizational-leadership-change-management) [Remote Work](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/remote-work) --- WRITTEN BY [![author](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/2017%20website/Team%20page/ak-for-profile-page-min.jpg) ](https://www.edelements.com/blog/author/anthony-kim) [Anthony Kim](https://www.edelements.com/blog/author/anthony-kim) SHARE ![Facebook](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/theme-assets-s2/icons/fb.svg) ![X](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/theme-assets-s2/icons/x.svg) ![LinkedIn](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/theme-assets-s2/icons/li.svg) ![Mail](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/theme-assets-s2/icons/mail.svg) Many organizations are learning how they can push their work forward as they transition from in-person to virtual collaboration. No longer confined by the physical limitations that come with an office space, leaders must also recognize the opportunity that virtual work brings to more thoughtfully reflect on how work gets defined and how it gets delegated to team members. Defining the work before defining team roles is essential for individual growth and improving organizational decision-making. Typically, organizations solve problems by first acknowledging that they exist and then finding someone to fix them on their own. However, spending time to really understand the problem and chart a plan for how it can be solved can open new doors for the kind of collaboration and collective skill-building that improves organizational decision-making and fosters individual growth. We can understand the importance of defining the work before the roles by observing the role car sensors play in keeping the cars we drive safe for the road. A typical car possesses a number of sensors that measure engine airflow as well as fuel temperature. Before any of these sensors were ever built, an engineer determined all of the information a car needs to measure and control to function safely. > Missed the previous post? Check out Part 3 of the Remote Work Series: > > [Build Trust and Allow Authority to Spread ](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-build-trust-and-allow-authority-to-spread) Like the car engineer, leaders must also identify the kind of information that is needed to fulfill an organizational need. While experience is immensely valuable, considering new perspectives and approaches is equally important to preparing a team to make a decision. By opening up the floor to new diverse ideas, you also provide opportunities for team members to step up and contribute in significant ways. This can in turn boost team members’ sense of belonging on a team and their overall confidence. Once the work has been defined, it’s time to think about how you delegate tasks to your team.  ![Define the Work Before You Define the People Remote Work Series Blog Image](https://www.edelements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Files/Define%20the%20Work%20Before%20You%20Define%20the%20People%20Remote%20Work%20Series%20Blog%20Image.jpg?width=800&name=Define%20the%20Work%20Before%20You%20Define%20the%20People%20Remote%20Work%20Series%20Blog%20Image.jpg) What’s unique about remote work is that we have to communicate more frequently and more clearly when trying to determine a project or task owner as well as who needs to be kept informed about progress. It’s crucial for leaders to have a set of communication tools and to think about when to utilize which for organizational purposes. For example, when sending an email to multiple recipients, it’s important to ensure that you are clear about who is expected to complete any given tasks.  Luckily, we have tools at our disposal to help clarify the task delegation process. Google Docs, for example, allows you to tag a colleague and assign tasks that land in their inbox. When delegating tasks via email, you might avoid emailing 15 team members one task that belongs to just a few. Similarly, you might avoid assigning too many colleagues to a single task on Google Docs so as to avoid confusion. The same amount of thought and intention should go into communicating tasks when working remotely.  Transitioning to virtual work can present many challenges to your organization. But collaborative reflection and thoughtful communication can enhance your team’s productivity and growth in such an uncertain time. Check out my video "Define the Work Before You Define the People" as part of the Remote Work series. [**Subscribe to my YouTube channel**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZJD40BLdkfZnhPDtjTtng) to check out the rest of the series, and for more videos about learning organizations, team habits, and leadership. [![Educating Through COVID-19 Free On-Demand Webinar – The NEW School Rules: Remote Work Edition](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/428371/19019f25-2af1-4f9f-a1ff-a9eccd55fcb4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/428371/19019f25-2af1-4f9f-a1ff-a9eccd55fcb4) > Looking for the next post in the Remote Work Series? > > Check out:[ Aim For Safe Enough to Try](https://www.edelements.com/blog/remote-work-series-aim-for-safe-enough-to-try) Written By ![Author](https://www.edelements.com/hubfs/2017%20website/Team%20page/ak-for-profile-page-min.jpg) Anthony Kim Anthony Kim is a Corwin Press bestselling author, with publications including The New Team Habits, The New School Rules, and The Personalized Learning Playbook. His writing ranges the topics of the future of work, leadership and team motivation, improving the way we work, and innovation in systems-based approaches to organizations and school design. Anthony believes that how we work is the key determinant to the success of any organization. He is a nationally recognized speaker on learning and his work has been referenced by the Christensen Institute, iNACOL, EdSurge, CompetencyWorks, Education Week, District Administration, and numerous research reports. In addition to his writing, Anthony is the founder and Chief Learning Officer of Education Elements, a trusted partner and consultant to over 1,000 schools nationwide. Anthony has been the founder of several companies across multiple industries, including online education, ecommerce, and concerts and events. #### All Posts [All Resources ](https://www.edelements.com/blog) [![Want to Improve Teacher Retention? Create a Pipeline of Growth Opportunities Blog Header](https://www.edelements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Files/Want%20to%20Improve%20Teacher%20Retention%3F%20Create%20a%20Pipeline%20of%20Growth%20Opportunities%20Blog%20Header.png?width=352&name=Want%20to%20Improve%20Teacher%20Retention%3F%20Create%20a%20Pipeline%20of%20Growth%20Opportunities%20Blog%20Header.png) ](https://www.edelements.com/blog/want-to-improve-teacher-retention-create-a-pipeline-of-growth-opportunities) [Innovative Leadership](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/innovative-leadership), [Teacher Retention](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/teacher-retention) October 23, 2019 #### [Want to Improve Teacher Retention? Create a Pipeline of Growth Opportunities](https://www.edelements.com/blog/want-to-improve-teacher-retention-create-a-pipeline-of-growth-opportunities) [![](https://www.edelements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/theme-assets-s2/images/Standard%20Photos/AdobeStock_623072273.jpeg?width=352&name=AdobeStock_623072273.jpeg) ](https://www.edelements.com/blog/rethinking-k12-school-district-employee-life-cycle-for-todays-workforce) [Teachers](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/teachers), [District Leadership](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/district-leadership), [School Leadership](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/school-leadership) January 28, 2026 #### [Rethinking K12 School District Employee Life Cycle for Today’s Workforce](https://www.edelements.com/blog/rethinking-k12-school-district-employee-life-cycle-for-todays-workforce) [![Multiple people wearing shorts and sneakers or running shoes running in a road race.](https://www.edelements.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Files/Building%20Community%20Through%20A%20Virtual%20Road%20Race%20Blog%20Header.jpg?width=352&name=Building%20Community%20Through%20A%20Virtual%20Road%20Race%20Blog%20Header.jpg) ](https://www.edelements.com/blog/building-community-through-a-virtual-road-race) [Teachers](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/teachers), [Virtual Learning](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/virtual-learning), [Remote Work](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/remote-work), [District Leadership](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/district-leadership), [School Leadership](https://www.edelements.com/blog/topic/school-leadership) December 16, 2020 #### [Building Community Through A Virtual Road Race](https://www.edelements.com/blog/building-community-through-a-virtual-road-race) ### Get the latest from Education Elements. 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