21st Century Work Life - Remote Working, Virtual Teams And Flexible Working

In this episode, Pilar and Lisette talk about how having a remote set-up and a flexible workforce affects how we work in the office. 55mins  visit www.virtualnotdistant.com What is "remote" anyway? Even people working across different floors perceive themselves as being distant from each other. Another great advocacy point for adapting the office to remote working. It will benefit teamwork that happens across floors, not just those working outside the building. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SupportingDistributedTeamwork.pdf Where is the information rather than who has the information. http://blog.idonethis.com/remote-company/ This doesn't just make us more productive, it also stops hierarchies forming around who holds the information. Not to mention that people can leave on holiday (or leave the company) without leaving gaps of information in the team. Can some behaviours around availability and reflection become more acceptable? It seems to be more acceptable not to b

In this episode, Pilar talks about what happens when people speak different languages in the office, how many people still reject having online interactions and the difficulties of working out loud in virtual teams.  Get in touch with your thoughts through www.virtualnotdistant.com When speaking a different language in the office is a problem. Finding out whether it's a sign of something else going on. Having informal conversations and avoiding directives.  Pilar mentions this Today programme http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08g2ty8  which talks about how The Care Quality Commision in the UK has issued a warning about two online doctor services, which can also prescribe medicines. If you want to read more about this particular issue, go here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/03/cqc-warns-online-doctor-services-may-pose-risk-to-public  Leaving the whole unreliability of some services to one side, and the state of the health service, why are we not embracing online video interactions? A video

In today's episode, Pilar and Lisette share some of the ways in which they learn about themselves, their work and their colleagues. Online Learning does not mean watching videos! (1) Overview What do we mean by "learning"? Kolb's cycle. Involves change. A lot of our learning is experiential. Experience (concrete experience) Reflect (reflective observation) Theorise, generalise (abstract conceptualisation) How could it work next time? Plan. (active experimentation) From "How do I use the tool?" to "How do I approach you?" Just in case (most formal learning) vs Just in Time (most informal learning)  (2) Informality Spectrum Social aspect of learning - learning from others through their point of view; building empathy From chatting over coffee to structured events.  (3) Specific examples of learning through Virtual TT Trust - learning about topic but also about turning knowledge conversations into content. Formal - learn about trust; informal, learn about others, myself Lean coffee and mentoring - formal / sel

Sam Mednick introduces herself. She's an audacious journalists and also a member of the Happy Melly team.  Sam talks about what it's like to work in Happy Melly One. It seems difficult to separate happiness at work from happiness in life in general. It's ok now to admit that what happens in life affects our work and viceversa.  What makes trust possible in this virtual team? Sam talks about sharing values and having honest conversations and touching base with each other on video.  Pilar mentions "Faster, Smarter, Better" by Charles Duhigg and psychological safety.  Executive Coaching and current challenges executives face.  The nature of coaching, it need not be remedial.  Check out Sam's website: Blueprint Coaching.  Sam's podcast series around Courageous Conversations Sam shares what has helped people to have these difficult conversations. (Yes, step by step...) Sam's "appointment with herself". Why does she do it and what is this "high-level meeting"? What drives Sam to conflict zones? What does sh

We talk about protecting our work when working outside the office.  INTRO and Catch-up Duncan featured us! http://banoffeesolutions.co.uk/archive/podcasts-for-remote-working/ Programming and Data Science blog by Duncan Thomson We recommend that you watch The Newsroom Join us for Virtual Team Talk.  Sococo has a new "meetings" feature, which makes it easy to organise meetings in the space and also to tap someone on the shoulder to let them know you want to talk to them, and they can easily refused. The Main Conversation We're looking at security from three points of view. From the organisation: Can I trust the people? Can i trust the tools? And for both organisations and individuals "Am i/Are we safe?" Having a policy.  Remember that people can look over your shoulder and read your emails... Can employees from the external tools we use read our data? Business Daily Protecting Your Online Data, 1 Feb 2017 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04qnwh4 In Business How Safe Are your Secrets Aug 2016 http://www.b

In today's episode, Pilar talks to Caroline Crampton, Assistant Editor of the New Statesman magazine.  Get in touch through www.virtualnotdistant.com Caroline explains her role as Assistant Editor of the New Statesman, where she works mainly on the print version of the magazine. What does a "hybrid publication" look like? How does it sustain itself? Caroline talks us through the different tasks that make up her role and gives us a brief history of the New Statesman. Caroline's podcast with Anna Leszkiewicz, the SRSLY podcast. Why she started the podcast and how she engages with her listeners through live events. Listening for pleasure or professional interest: work/life integration From podcast listener to podcasting and Caroline's Podcast column in the New Statesman. http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/podcasts/2016/10/why-it-s-time-start-writing-about-podcasts-culture Caroline mentions one of her latest posts: http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/podcasts/2017/02/who-tells-your-story-how-hamilton-fans-are

A short, on the go episode inspired by a recent conversation from a manager who had been told that people "could now work from home". Find out what works, don't rely on your experience when you do it on ad-hoc basis. You can't just say, "Ok, you can now work from home". You need to lay down a new infrastructure. It's a change programme!

In this episode, we talk about the four areas of teamwork you should address in your remote team. Introduction: What Caught Our Eye? RSI and general health when working with so much tech. More or Less 3 Jan Does Sweden Really have a Six Hour Day? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04n7vlg Pilar mentions Companies Without Managers, the episode from In Business that talks about the Buurtzorg model. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03045tx We talk about the introduction of Slack threaded messages and the importance of revising your communication norms; pros and cons for teams and communities. https://slackhq.com/threaded-messaging-comes-to-slack-417ffba054bd#.gx6t5ndmt Lisette mentions this episode 46 from The Future Work podcast https://thefutureorganization.com/forget-work-life-balance-its-all-about-work-life-integration/ If you would like to join Virtual Team Talk: https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Zoom's cash injection: http://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2017/01/17/ceo-announcement-zoom-partners-with-sequoia-in-100-

In this episode, Pilar Orti talks to Nancy Settle-Murphy about how she facilitates online and hybrid meetings.  Having conversations in public when you meet someone for the first time. Being a coach/trainer/facilitator Who does Nancy work with? Hybrid meetings. Nancy talks about one of her clients and why they decide to hold hybrid meetings. Involving people calling into the in person meeting in activities. Using the technology wisely. Making online team meetings work. Does splitting responsibilities in a meeting translate into how the team operates outside of meetings? Should roles be assigned by the manager? The changes that Nancy has seen throughout her 22 years working as a virtual meeting facilitator. Are there more international teams now in corporations? It's the ability to collaborate asynchronously that's evolved and changed how we operate. The assumptions we make when we're using the same language. "The hope is that we mean the same things when we say something, but in the virtual world we need to

An "on the spot" recording about the importance of autonomy at work.  Pilar shares a great customer service experience and a really good read. 

In this episode Pilar and Lisette review some of the latest news in the world of work and offer some guidance on how to review your communication infrastructure in your virtual team. Pilar introduces this episode and she mentions this book (well, she mentions Tim Harford but can't remember the title!) Messy: How to be creative and resilient in a Tidy-Minded World She mentions this episode from Evidence Talks about the Right to Disconnect law in France. http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/4994834 Let us know what you think of this format: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ The Conversation with Lisette and Pilar Oh, man, the book... What Lisette has learned about her writing process. We talk about Trello's aquisition by Atlassian and the comments in Michael Pryor's blog post. http://blog.trello.com/trello-atlassian Are we getting used to tools being free? Pilar has discovered a new feature in Zoom which could help more people jump on video calls. Listeners: Does it bother you to see yourself o

In today's episode, Pilar chats to Curtis James, who observes people at work and gives visibility to those jobs that are often invisible.  visit www.virtualnotdistant.com An incredibly short introduction. Pilar is actually back after the conversation, to add some comments. Remember to check out these other two podcasts: Management Café and Evidence Talks. The Conversation with Curtis James 03:45mins Curtis's journey working in organisations. http://www.wearefieldwork.com/ Impartiality when working in an organisation, documenting the workforce. How Curtis documents the workforce. How they recreate smells; exhibition workshops. "All companies are going to have good and bad stuff happening in them. The very fact that they're embarking on this kind of work is something that they should be proud of, because it's about being transparent, and this should be the beginning of finding new ways of working." The importance of having collaborators during this type of work. What Curtis has learned about himself and how

Introduction If you work in a virtual team, or are a remote worker or are just interested in making the world of work as great as it can be, join us in Virtual Team Talk. A new podcast on evidence-based practice in organisations http://www.futureworkcentre.com/what-we-do/education/evidencetalks/ Virtual Coffee with Lisette and Pilar 05:30mins 30 Nov Entrepreneur on Fire http://www.eofire.com/podcast/lisettesutherland/ The virus that goes into your calendar. Using online conferences as development opportunities for your group or team and being mindful of how to use the chat space. Using an external event as an internal development opportunity. Lisette recommends this app to recruit for virtual teams http://www.indivizo.com/ and she has some questions to ask yourself if you're recruiting. Has much moved on in the world of work? Companies That Got Rid Of Performance Ratings Aren’t Doing So Well, Sadly http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/long-live-the-performance-review_us_5772ca2ce4b0eb90355c8b05 The 'T' word..

Pilar talks to Mauricio Salatino about working in Open Source software and a working remotely within an organisation.  Introduction Asynchronous feedback and assuming positive intent. Online course on leading remote teams: http://virtualnotdistant.com/training/leading-remote-teams-course/ In person course in London and Birmingham 2017 The Conversation with Mauricio Salatino Starts 11:05mins Mauricio lent Pilar the Hardback edition of Open Organization, great book. We talk about it. (Affiliate link.) Reading a book about the organisation you're in and seeing that indeed it does reflect the culture you're part of. What Red Hat does broadly. How do you get involved in an open source project? Turning a hobby into a full-paid position. The open source mindset and being trusted to represent your company in public. Sharing your work in public. Mauricio's specialisms - creating software. Working in a remote set-up. Different kinds of meetings. Working hours. Cv? What cv? Do we really need a cv in the 21st Century?

In the first of our Wicked Wednesday conversations, Pilar goes over to @WorkHubs, a co-working space in central London, to talk to Philip Dodson and Bernie J. Mitchell from @WorkHubs, about building a freelance community.  Introduction After Pilar's conversation this morning in the Virtual Team Talk online coworking space, Pilar reflects on some of the things that might stop us from having high quality communication with other virtual team members. https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Tapping People on the Shoulder Working in the same space at the same time. Moving onto video Moving onto Direct Messaging Informal channels Dealing with Noise Sign up to our newsletter or seven part email series. http://virtualnotdistant.com/inspiration/virtual-signup/ The Conversation with Philip Dodson and Bernie J. Mitchell If you enjoy this conversation, check out the podcast with Bernie and Phil: Straight Outta @WorkHubs 16:00mins Origins of @WorkHubs - from a desk to a place wehre you can develop - the The Write Club Why a coworki

In today's episode, and given their latest travels, Pilar and Lisette ask themselves whether they can really work from anywhere and the kinds of questions to ask ourselves if we're making the transition to remote team. Get in touch: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ A little bit more from a past guest, Michiel Klonhammer from LearningStone about how the world of work is changing. Lisette appeared on Entrepreneur on Fire! Remember to also listen to the Management Café podcast. Would you like to join us for some Virtual Team Talk? https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Virtual Coffee with Lisette and Pilar 06:50mins Updates. Lisette's trip to the US and the live Happy Melly event. Pilar's thoughts on the experiment 'Flipping the Online Classroom' and our unidirectional relationship with the screen. On the other hand, creating a podcast like Management Café which is all about delivery of information is a struggle. We recorded the day after the US Elections, so yes, we talk about that (briefly). We talk about

Join Pilar and 18 guests to reflect on how the world of work and our attitudes to work are changing.  visit www.virtualnotdistant.com Thank you to everyone who has ever appeared on this podcast and a special thanks to all those involved in this special episode: Michael Herman  www.michaelherman.com    Episode 95 Vanessa Shaw www.thehumansideoftech.org    Episode 45 Ryan Behrman Episode 44 Mandy Garner www.workingmums.co.uk   Episode 74 Kristin Messina  www.yonderwork.com    Episode 97 Pilar mentions this article: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/nov/18/daily-commute-of-two-hours-reality-for-37m-uk-workers Michele Bonazza  www.sketchtogether.com   Episode 57 Mandy Garner www.workingmums.co.uk   Episode 74 Melanie Purschel www.teammoodtracker.com Episode 88 Jurgen Appelo http://jurgenappelo.com/ Episode 4 Lisette Sutherland www.collaborationsuperpowers.com every other episode!!!!  Craig Wealand www.inglespodcast.com Episode 66 Mariano Tufró www.leadershipminds.co.uk Episode 18 Lindsay Price www.theatref

  In this episode Pilar talks to Andy Cleff about virtual teams, running experiments and how the tension between creativity and control. A Thoughtful Thursday conversation. visit www.virtualnotdistant.com Introduction Yes, you can become emotionally connected to people you've never met in person. Pilar writes here about her recent experience leaving a virtual team. https://pilarwrites.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/its-not-the-tech-its-the-people/ Come and join us in Virtual Team Talk https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Pilar mentions the book 'Radical Collaboration', which Andy talks about later. If you are based in the UK or Ireland and you would like to give your opinion on products and get paid for it, click on: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243 08:00mins The Conversation with Andy Cleff  What does play mean in the context of software development. The concept of serious play. For how long can we continue working as a team if the work becomes too intense? Andy's change in mi

In this episode Pilar and Lisette talk about whether we should have Happiness Programmes and Happiness Chief Officers in organisations. What do you think?  Introduction Pilar recommends Episode 561 of The Art of Charm, with Dan Ariely http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/dan-ariely-payoff-episode-561/ and Episode 552 of The Art of Charm, with Charles Duhigg http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/charles-duhigg-smarter-faster-better-episode-552/ Pilar mentions Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reinventing-Organizations-Creating-Inspired-Consciousness/dp/2960133501/ Interested in an online course on leading remote teams? Check out this one next March 2017 http://virtualnotdistant.com/training/leading-remote-teams-course/ Thanks to Saros Research! If you want to give your opinion on products and get paid for it (and you're based in the UK or Ireland), join Saros: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243     The Conversation with Li

Not a proper episode this week either, but Pilar would like to recommend a couple of episodes from another podcast. Another proper episode next week.  Episode 561 of The Art of Charm, with Dan Ariely http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/dan-ariely-payoff-episode-561/ and Episode 552 of The Art of Charm, with Charles Duhigg http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/charles-duhigg-smarter-faster-better-episode-552/   And of course, visit www.virtualnotdistant.com for more episodes and blog posts, from the Inspiration page.