1. I'm getting asked for "best tips and tricks" for #remote work, but that's the wrong approach.
Attitude shift first: you have to share and empower. A chat room is searchable. An email thread is not. A recorded video conf can be watched l8r, a 1-on-1 private convo can not.
Attitude shift first: you have to share and empower. A chat room is searchable. An email thread is not. A recorded video conf can be watched l8r, a 1-on-1 private convo can not.
2. If you're replicating every in person meeting with a remote one you missed a step: ask - is there a better way, or tool, to solve the problem this meeting was created to solve?
There probably is. Often there always was, but that's another thread.
There probably is. Often there always was, but that's another thread.
3. Many questions are about tools - "what's the best tool for X?" - that depends on what your other tools are and what problem you're really trying to solve.
Most chat programs (Teams/Slack) and video (Zoom/Skype) are *mostly* the same. The problems *mostly* aren't the tools.
Most chat programs (Teams/Slack) and video (Zoom/Skype) are *mostly* the same. The problems *mostly* aren't the tools.
4. Great question: Now that we're remote, how can leaders delegate more to their teams? Can some autonomy can come with location freedom?
If you delegate more, communication overhead DROPS.
But managers fear remote - they want MORE control. Usually backfires.
If you delegate more, communication overhead DROPS.
But managers fear remote - they want MORE control. Usually backfires.
5. Usually you need 4 communication tools. Orgs new to remote usually cling to the first, but it's a ball and chain.
1. Live meeting
2. blogs or documents
3. 1-on-1 chat
4. async discussion
Email usually lingers as the default #4. But chat rooms work better: searchable later!
1. Live meeting
2. blogs or documents
3. 1-on-1 chat
4. async discussion
Email usually lingers as the default #4. But chat rooms work better: searchable later!
6. This all means there are levels of REMOTE MATURITY.
If you're new, you're at level 1! It's OK - but don't expect to be at lvl 4 tomorrow.
There's org baggage about how work "should" be done to examine. Which is why leaders, who often fear remote, have to pave the way.
If you're new, you're at level 1! It's OK - but don't expect to be at lvl 4 tomorrow.
There's org baggage about how work "should" be done to examine. Which is why leaders, who often fear remote, have to pave the way.
7. A great team discussion after a week of remote work is:
"Of the tools we are using, which have been most helpful? most frustrating? How can we improve? What better habits do we need?"
It's going to take time to sort this out. Build in a feedback loop from the team itself.
"Of the tools we are using, which have been most helpful? most frustrating? How can we improve? What better habits do we need?"
It's going to take time to sort this out. Build in a feedback loop from the team itself.
8. Much of the burden of "habits" falls on leaders and managers. They shape meetings, choose tools, and facilitate (or fail to!) how they are used.
That's why I say the prob is rarely the tools - it's usually the manager. They need to control less and facilitate more.
That's why I say the prob is rarely the tools - it's usually the manager. They need to control less and facilitate more.
