Remote work has opened up incredible flexibility — but it’s also created new challenges around communication, trust and visibility. In this episode, host Eric Fish talks with Dr. Peggy Kendall, a Bethel University professor, researcher and consultant on virtual communication and remote team dynamics. Drawing from research for her new book, Trust at a Distance: 6 Strategies for Managing in Remote Workspaces, she explains why trust is harder to build across screens, why remote workers often overcompensate, and how small misunderstandings can quickly snowball without the signals we rely on in person.

She breaks down the pillars of trust that remote teams need to thrive, offering practical strategies for managers and employees. From proximity bias and digital presenteeism to predictable check-ins and the importance of psychological safety, this conversation gives a blueprint for creating healthier and more effective distributed teams.

Links

• Peggy’s book: Trust at a Distance: 6 Strategies for Managing in Remote Workspaces

• Peggy’s website: Peggykendall.com

• Harvard Business Review study: Monitoring Employees Makes Them More Likely to Break Rules