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RailsConf 2017: A Clear-Eyed Look at Distributed Teams by Glenn Vanderburg & Maria Gutierrez Distributed teams can have big benefits for both employers and employees. But there are many challenges. Being successful requires changes to work practices, communication, and style — and not just from the remote people. Everyone will experience changes. It helps to be prepared … and most of what we see being written and discussed is focused on remote workers, not the organization that supports them. In this talk, we will look at the challenges and rewards of working in a distributed team setting based on several years of experience growing large distributed engineering teams.
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In the talk "A Clear-Eyed Look at Distributed Teams" presented at RailsConf 2017, Glenn Vanderburg and Maria Gutierrez share insights and lessons learned from their experiences with distributed engineering teams. They emphasize that while distributed teams can present significant benefits, they also pose unique challenges that require commitment and intentional changes from everyone involved, not just remote workers. ### Key Points Discussed: - **Understanding the Commitment**: Starting a distributed team strategy necessitates a genuine commitment from company leadership and all members to ensure its success. Half-hearted efforts can lead to increased challenges and a negative experience. - **Building Culture**: Creating a positive organizational culture is essential and is achievable even with a distributed team. Important aspects include shared goals, mutual respect, and effective communication among team members. - **Investing in Tools**: High-quality tools facilitate better communication and collaboration. It is vital that all employees have access to the same tools and that their needs are accommodated. - **Reducing Us-vs-Them Mentality**: Language matters. Using terms like "distributed" instead of "remote" helps foster equality within the team. - **Effective Communication**: Clear and intentional communication is critical. Teams should adapt their communication strategies to compensate for the lack of informal interactions that occur in co-located environments. - **Regular Meetings and 1-on-1s**: Regular personal interactions, both socially and professionally, can strengthen team bonds and promote trust. Video meetings are particularly recommended over audio-only. - **Handling Diversity and Flexibility**: The talk highlights how distributed teams allow for diverse hiring options, providing flexibility that can enhance employee satisfaction and workforce retention. - **Planning for Location and Budget**: Leaders need to be clear about hiring expectations based on location, budgeting for tools, and office setups, as well as travel for in-person meetings. Understanding legal implications across different regions is essential for smaller businesses. ### Conclusions: Vanderburg and Gutierrez conclude by reaffirming their belief in the advantages of distributed teams, including the ability to draw talent from a wide geographical area and increase employee engagement. They stress that while there are challenges, overcoming these requires commitment, intention, and effective communication strategies. The presentation offers valuable advice on how to enhance the efficacy of distributed teams while navigating potential pitfalls, with real-life anecdotes showcasing both successes and difficulties faced during their journeys.
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