Distributed teams are the future of the IT workforce. Many companies have adopted remote work as a part of their business, and more organizations (small and large) are moving towards this new way of conducting their work.
In this talk, we explore how to become a remote employee successfully, how to manage a remote team, and what mistakes to avoid in the process.
In the office context, we end up tracking time (even unconsciously)
Being evaluated by time spent, not by work done
creative minds need more autonomy
To be precise, tracking time is fine (for contractors)
Brainstorming, whiteboarding, project discussions
We already collaborate online using slack and emails - even today, in the office, you get messaged
Your product team ends up leading tons of threads, work items - you will spend time discussing them all, then it becomes invalid. Asyncrony will allow do it in parallel just-in-time
Open office is nightmare
Otherwise, people would not have been looking for ways to find privacy, quite space, etc.
People (primarily, managers) end up using meeting rooms as their offices
Interestingly, I found some salespeople like it more
Don`t fall for Office perks
Example: Dinner for staying late
It is a bribe
Work is a balance where you trade your life energy (your time) for money
DHH - Work takes, Life gives
Work on Plane dilemma
We get more work done on a plane or in a cafe rather than on our workplaces
Consider remote work
Work is just work
Don’t make it about status, friends, “family”
Can do it on your own time
Open office is nightmare
Otherwise, people would not have been looking for ways to find privacy, quite space, etc.
People (primarily, managers) end up using meeting rooms as their offices
Interestingly, I found some salespeople like it more
Don`t fall for Office perks
Example: Dinner for staying late
It is a bribe
Work is a balance where you trade your life energy (your time) for money
DHH - Work takes, Life gives
Work on Plane dilemma
We get more work done on a plane or in a cafe rather than on our workplaces
Consider remote work
Work is just work
Don’t make it about status, friends, “family”
Can do it on your own time
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Office-Required-Jason-Fried/dp/0804137501
Brandon, intern at Google
Article talks about saving 90% of the income very positively
alternative to pay $2,180 a month
https://www.elitereaders.com/google-employee-parking-lot/
Photo references: https://bit.ly/2K6Ez0f
Have an acquaintance of mine
Let’s call Jim
Earned a lot, worked in San Francisco
Contributing to diversity and inclusion (can work remote)
Your life comes first - you fit your work into it, not fitting your life into your work
Why suffer for some unknown future? Life is short
Head of Learning @gatsbyjs
travel has its dangers - will talk later
travel has its dangers - will talk later
travel has its dangers - will talk later
Just ask yourself - Europe is a different story (also can travel extensively in US too)
Reference: https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/us/en/research-insights/traveling-in-retirement-is-a-dream-but-high-costs-could-derail-plans/detail/
travel has its dangers - will talk later
Health is not best in the future
Get even more responsibilities
Behan Gifford and her husband Jamie
Sailing around the world for eight years with three kids taught us to live without structure
Reference:https://qz.com/778593/sailing-around-the-world-for-eight-years-with-three-kids-taught-us-to-live-without-structure/
Mozilla Sr. Web Developer
Poland
Tartu, Estonia
We are blessed
Unfortunately remember only when things go bad
Don`t spend your time in the commute
Spend time where it matters
In the office context, we end up tracking time (even unconsciously)
Being evaluated by time spent, not by work done
creative minds need more autonomy
To be precise, tracking time is fine (for contractors)
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X
Unfortunately remember only when things go bad
Not much to say
Introduces its own challenge
but imagine consequences
You being here
Always prefer asynchronous communication
Emergencies should be unique
Instant Messaging does not mean instant replies
Ignore but don`t forget
Make sure expectations are clear
Might expect to get a reply instantly or on Weekends
Note: the worst when you get email on weekend with “don’t bother to reply until Monday”
Lead by example and don`t reply
Note: France outlawed this behaviour
Put your face as an avatar so people still feel like they work with people (and use webcam when possible)
Always prefer asynchronous communication
Emergencies should be unique
Instant Messaging does not mean instant replies
Ignore but don`t forget
Make sure expectations are clear
Might expect to get a reply instantly or on Weekends
Note: the worst when you get email on weekend with “don’t bother to reply until Monday”
Lead by example and don`t reply
Note: France outlawed this behaviour
Put your face as an avatar so people still feel like they work with people (and use webcam when possible)
Always prefer asynchronous communication
Emergencies should be unique
Instant Messaging does not mean instant replies
Ignore but don`t forget
Make sure expectations are clear
Might expect to get a reply instantly or on Weekends
Note: the worst when you get email on weekend with “don’t bother to reply until Monday”
Lead by example and don`t reply
Note: France outlawed this behaviour
Have 2-4 hours of overlap a day for meetings
Put your face as an avatar so people still feel like they work with people (and use webcam when possible)
Go for a walk
Getting a pet is important (cat or especially dog)
Go for an appointment - best to have a status on your slack that you are out (or post on calendar if out for longer period)
Mobile devices can be useful
but also can be time waster and stress source
Noise control in the office settings full of stressors
Controlling your environment
Getting into focused state
Note:
No Notification popups
All messaging apps are moved away from easy access
Apps are grouped
Reference: My Phone
Potentially even delete apps
Move messaging to the next screen
No notifications
Disable corporate account (at least after work)
Don`t Disturb Mode always on
Who calls these days anyways?
My phone number is online and the phone calls I get from scammers on taxes
Put your phone arm length away from you - makes a huge difference
Benefits
studies shown that sitting in a cafe, people can focus more
it is all about the noise being meaningless to us
Sound Support
Headspace is especially great to get started
Headspace is especially great to get started
If need to discuss something, jump on a call (more than 3 posts rule)
Plus to kids applies
Ping someone before interrupting them
Crucial for experts to have office hours like in academia
Make sure everyone agrees on what rules you want to follow as a team
even when you are around people all the time
Can be a coffee shop
need to break routine - this is how we do vacations
PyCon are like a family reunion (not seing them every day makes it better)
Can be online community
If you are in a small town, try to keep it generic
Board game conference
Flat earth conference
Martial arts
Drawing
Poetry
My ER practice: Gym or Music
Mindfulness
Being present in the moment
Personal
Couldn`t understand it - felt somewhat elitist
Until I was finishing off my run and one of the audiobooks I was listening to defined Mindfulness for me again
Running exhausted me, so I was able to concentrate
Too much information
Don`t simply have hundreds of notes in your house
Organize them into a single source of truth (app that you will use)
Evernote
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713
Creator of CoffeeScript, Backbone.js, Underscore, etc.
Creator of CoffeeScript, Backbone.js, Underscore, etc.
Never a good reason to be rude - no benefit
Angry letter
Abraham Lincoln used to write letters when angry but never send them
Not always need for a rush for constant improvements - stop and appreciate what was done
Share proactive, positive feedback
Tell them (juniors) that they have a talent
Example
Coby O'Brien and his father story - 11 years old, zero points, got positive feedback has been working ever since
Never a good reason to be rude - no benefit
Angry letter
Abraham Lincoln used to write letters when angry but never send them
Not always need for a rush for constant improvements - stop and appreciate what was done
Share proactive, positive feedback
Tell them (juniors) that they have a talent
Example
Coby O'Brien and his father story - 11 years old, zero points, got positive feedback has been working ever since
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X
Going to nature
Remove headphones
Float Therapy
Sensory deprivation capsule
90 minutes
Understanding yourself and appreciating yourself
Remove fears of staying alone (or without a job) -> removes stress and lets to make clear judgements
Unguided Meditation
Great to get into zone without distraction
Guided Meditation
Best place to start
Active Meditation
Staying in the moment when working out
Consistency
10 minutes is not too much
Tony Robbins, “If you don`t have 10 minutes for yourself, you don`t have life”
Doesn`t have anything to do with religion
Headspace is especially great to get started
Doesn`t have anything to do with religion
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265431
Doesn`t have anything to do with religion
Doesn`t have anything to do with religion
Eat right
Sleep well
Easier to start with your own company
Try hybrid - once a week
Then few days, then longer