Daily Buzz: What Makes a Successful Remote Internship Program?

Want to offer a remote internship program? It’s not the same as in-person experience, but there are ways to deliver an effective remote program that benefits both the intern and the organization.

“If companies thoughtfully integrate a few key principles when designing remote internship programs, these interns will likely have highly meaningful experiences that could mimic, and in some cases even be better than, an in-person environment,” says Springboard cofounder and CEO Gautam Tambay on Fast Company  (opens in a new tab).

First, companies must set clear expectations for their interns. They need to know exactly what projects they’ll be working on, what responsibilities they’ll have, and what deadlines they need to meet. “[A]lso introduce relevant stakeholders and tools, and be clear on how and to whom they should communicate in case they have questions or concerns,” Tambay says.

As interns work on projects, managers should offer mentorship and feedback. Share any tips and background information that you can, and be sure to schedule regular one-on-one sessions to discuss progress and areas that can improve.

“This will help interns stay motivated, achieve their goals, and feel that they are not operating in a vacuum. Keep the conversation going until you see quality results,” Tambay says. “But keep in mind that interns are there to learn, so don’t reprimand them for making mistakes.”

How Wise Leaders React to Uncertainty

“CEOs need to broaden the perspective of employees by explaining that their company doesn’t exist in a vacuum but is part of an interdependent whole.” — @NaviRadjou and @PKaipa  (opens in a new tab). https://t.co/cXNZXHwb4f  (opens in a new tab)

— MIT Sloan Management Review (@mitsmr) May 8, 2020  (opens in a new tab)

What makes a wise leader? One who doesn’t rely solely on survival instincts in a crisis. Instead, they use a combination of intuition, logic, and their emotions to respond appropriately, say Navi Radjou and Prasad Kaipa on the MIT Sloan Management Review  (opens in a new tab).

“Endowed with an entrepreneurial mind, a social heart, and an ecological soul, wise leaders are best fit to build the agile, inclusive, and sustainable businesses of the 21st century,” Radjou and Kaipa say.

Other Links of Note

In marketing, how do you balance short-term agility with long-term stability? Andrea Fryrear answers that on CMSWire  (opens in a new tab).

Data privacy can be tricky when dealing with third-party vendors, says Mike Spalding on Nonprofit Hub. He offers tips to protect donor data  (opens in a new tab).

Can’t escape online distractions? Try these tools to block them out  (opens in a new tab), says Gizmodo’s David Nield.

(damircudic/E+/Getty Images Plus)