working remotely, with trust and communication - mindy bohannon
TRANSCRIPT
Winning at Remote Project TeamsProductivity and PajamasTeleworking, Telecommuting is Remote Work!
IntentionsChallenges
Cultural NormsPersonality
Tone
Methods to Gain Trust
Collaboration Tools
Challenge80% of communication is non-verbalHow can you trust someone you can’t see?How do you communicate with someone many miles away?
MulticulturalismUnderstanding and Respecting differences in our humanity
Gender, class, race, spiritual, age, etc.
Personality
Understanding and Respecting our cultural differences
Language, cultural traditions
Directness
Multiculturalism Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions TheoryHofstede Country Comparison
Multiculturalism Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions TheoryHofstede Country Comparison
Culture
Metaphors Jargon
Go forward up to the bow, and yank on the lines to let the jib out to heel over. I’ll stay at the helm to guide a port tack.
CultureTone
Use of Emoticons and punctuation – Use it!
Culture
Golden Rule: Be nice, courteous
Love/Hate with Auto-Correct
Spelling and Grammar
=> Eats Shoots and Leaves=> Eats Shoots, and Leaves
=> Eats, Shoots, and Leaves
RemoteCommunication
What makes a good remote worker?
Show up on time
Run effective meetings
Accountability set explicitly
Proficient written communication & Trustworthy
Use direct language – not passive
The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch. (passive)
Space for virtual water cooler -Informal talks, reveal something
personal
The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch. (active)
RemoteCommunication
Methods to help TeleworkingCreate a Time Zone chart
www.timeanddate.com/worldclock
Methods to help TeleworkingSet expectations of your work style– Instant Message, Email, Phone
Use code words to protect time
– ex/Tree time
Set boundaries – free/busy calendar
Over communicate – build trust
Home Work Setups – setup, music
Home Work Setups – ergonomics
Home Work Setups - headphones
Home Work Setups – air flow
Tools
Tools – Instant MessengerChat/Messenger tool
Gov’t - √ (Yammer X)
Logged on => in the office
Messages
Private, group, or everyone
Power comes from Transparency
use group channel
Notify using @name
#Random channel is fun
Tools – IM - Slack
Work together like you’re in the same room
Audio, desktop and video sharing
Gov’t - √ Adobe Connect
Google Hangout, Skype (1); join.me (10), AnyMeeting (4)
Join early to chat casually or start with a first 5 minutes (timed) personal check
Pair up with someone each week to talk about something fun
Tools – Online Meetings
Chat
Headphones with microphone
Tools – Online Meetings
Live Video
Enough with clicking the pen….
Tapping paper next to the speaker…
Soft speakers sit near phone – loud speakers sit farther
away – you know who you are.
Please! say names a lot so we know who is talking
Tools – Conference Call Etiquette
Tools – TrelloProject management tool
Gov’t - √
Product roadmap, Editorialcalendar, Sales leads, add any part of a project that needs to get done
Post Trello activity and notifications to Slack
Tools – Trello
Tools – Document Sharing
Collaborate easier
Transparency to colleagues
Gov’t – √ SharePoint
Google Docs, Hackpad
Brainstorm + Whiteboard
Online sticky notes
Connect remote teams
Easily capture ideas, vote
Instant reports
Tools - Brainstorming
Tools
Tools – Other
CamScannerTake a picture of printed doc, sends to PDF and can email immediately
HelloSign for eSignatureDon’t make people print, scan, email
Leave the bed
Change Clothes
Keep regular hours
And finally…
Review – Were our Intentions Met?
Cultural NormsPersonalityTone
Methods to Gain Trust
Collaboration Tools
Questions, Discussions
What have you found that doesn’t work, that hinders communication and productivity?
What else have you foundthat does work?
Mindy Bohannon | [email protected] | @mindybo93
Zapier, Inc; The Ultimate Guide to Remote Project Work; zapier.com/
The Hofstede Center; Comparing Countries; geert-hofstede.com/
Escribano, Javier; How we organize our remote team using Slack, Trello and Google Drive; https://medium.com/@fesja/how-we-organize-our-remote-team-using-slack-trello-and-google-drive-70b5a8190ce2#.g0fe0em21
Active/Passive Voice examples: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-active-and-passive-voice.html#WTh572sWpgdtmZOT.99
Stevenson, Herb; The Behavioral Elements of Trust/Distrust; http://www.herbstevenson.com/articles/behavioral-elements-of-trust-distrust.php, 2015
References