Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

Remote working: 9 years of lessons learnt

Remote working: 9 years of lessons learnt

Alessandro Calzavara

November 16, 2019
Tweet

More Decks by Alessandro Calzavara

Other Decks in Technology

Transcript

  1. Remote working:
    9 years of lessons learnt
    ALESSANDRO CALZAVARA

    View Slide

  2. This talk contains my personal opinions, based
    on my experience and the ones of some of my
    (today and former) colleagues.
    Everyone is different and every company is
    different, but we can all learn from each other.
    Disclaimer

    View Slide

  3. Agenda
    3
    About me
    What we do and how we do it
    Working remotely at Voxnest
    That’s me, Sergio Sandro!
    Actionable lessons to improve your workflow
    as remote worker
    Lessons learnt
    1
    2
    3

    View Slide

  4. Hello!
    I’m Alessandro Calzavara
    Lead Engineer @ VOXNEST
    Working on Spreaker
    mobile and desktop apps
    4

    View Slide

  5. Hello!
    Started as iOS developer in 2010,
    today managing 8 different apps
    across all platforms.
    Almost always remote worker.
    5

    View Slide

  6. My office

    View Slide

  7. Working remotely
    at Voxnest
    What we do and how we do it

    View Slide

  8. Voxnest is an audio technology company
    specialised in podcasting solutions
    Our solutions for content creators of all sizes,
    Ad networks and listening platforms
    8
    “To simplify the audio industry and drive content creators to success”

    View Slide

  9. The team
    9
    35+ people and growing
    Spread between US and
    EUROPE
    All remote workers

    View Slide

  10. 100% remote
    10
    Key for being effective and inclusive
    while being distributed across 5 timezones

    View Slide

  11. SLACK
    Main async communication
    tool
    MEET / ZOOM
    For 1-to-1 and group
    video calls
    GDOCS
    All digital, no printed paper
    TRELLO
    Planning and workflow
    for each product team
    11
    Tools we use
    everyday

    View Slide

  12. Our gathering moments
    12
    ALL-HANDS
    We all join to share
    progresses, results and
    general information.
    DONUTS
    1-to-1 call between 2
    random colleague. To
    know each others.
    RETREAT
    At least once a year, we
    all meet IRL.

    View Slide

  13. Company retreat

    View Slide

  14. “We’re always hiring!
    Visit voxnest.com/careers or
    talk to me later.”
    14
    —Everybody at Voxnest

    View Slide

  15. Lessons learnt
    Actionable lessons to improve
    your workflow as remote worker

    View Slide

  16. Find the perfect spot
    A coworking space, another company
    office, your home office...
    Comfortable and well equipped. But
    also something you can “leave” when
    the day ends.
    16

    View Slide

  17. Change place
    from time to time
    Different coworking space, a friend
    office, another country...
    To understand if your perfect spot is
    really perfect.
    Also take the opportunity to do
    networking.
    17

    View Slide

  18. Have good quality gears
    Headphones, chair, keyboard, display...
    These are tools you’ll be using 8 hours
    a day, 5 days a week, for years. See
    them as an investment to make you
    more effective.
    18

    View Slide

  19. Good internet connection
    Prefer stability over performances.
    Having a backup plan helps in the
    “bad” moments.
    19

    View Slide

  20. Schedule discussions
    smartly
    Schedule them in advance, share
    topic/agenda beforehand, group them
    back-to-back...
    Give people time to know what will be
    discussed and when, so they can be
    ready for it. And still have the time do
    other tasks.
    20

    View Slide

  21. Respect everyone’s time
    Be on time for calls, announce your
    schedules changes...
    You’re responsible of your time, so use
    any tool you need to there when
    others needs you.
    21

    View Slide

  22. Don’t rush to respond
    Yes, no... Don’t know...
    Having a fast but pointless response is
    just waste. Prefer complete (even
    verbose) responses to avoid follow-up
    questions or misunderstanding.
    Especially on text form.
    22

    View Slide

  23. Take care of yourself
    Create an healthy routine...
    Having no-one around is not an excuse
    to forget about hygiene and good
    habits.
    You have only one life to live.
    23

    View Slide

  24. Take a break
    Virtual coffee with a colleague, do a
    walk with your dog, having lunch out
    with friends...
    Give the time to your brain to relax
    and process information. Do small
    things that makes you happy so that
    later to return energized.
    24

    View Slide

  25. Enjoy retreats!
    25
    Eat together. Discuss about anything. Do
    late night karaoke. Do trekking. Having
    fun on the beach...
    It’s all about spending time with your
    colleagues to create stronger personal
    connections.
    It will improve the communication.

    View Slide

  26. [email protected]
    @dral3x
    voxnest.com/about
    26
    Thanks for
    listening!

    View Slide

  27. Credits
    Presentation template by Slidesgo
    Voxnest retreat picture by me and my colleague Mauro
    Office picture from my colleague Chiara
    Others from Freepik.com
    - https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/businessman-watching-time_1378102.htm
    - https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/running-work_5400424.htm
    - https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/it-specialist-checking-code-computer-dark-office-night_5698336.htm
    - https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/purple-fiber-optics-abstract-defocused-background_5142564.htm
    - https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/close-up-running-shoes-fitness-women-training-jogging_2887359.htm
    27

    View Slide