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Lightning Talk: Working Remotely Martians Style

Dolganov Sergey • May 26, 2019 • Hamburg, Germany

In the Lightning Talk titled "Working Remotely Martians Style," speaker Dolganov Sergey discusses the nuances of remote work, prompted by personal experiences and feedback from colleagues. This talk, part of the Ruby Unconf 2019, centers on the impact of remote work on communication, productivity, and well-being. Throughout the talk, Sergey shares insights derived from Polina, a colleague whose transition to remote work exemplifies common challenges and strategies to enhance the remote working experience. Key points covered include:

  • Communication Changes:

    • Remote work alters communication dynamics, requiring more deliberate sharing of context.
    • Delaying responses can lead to deeper understanding and clearer work descriptions.

  • Managing Work Environment:

    • The absence of physical office cues can contribute to working longer hours and potential burnout.
    • Establishing routines and managing time effectively is vital, with an emphasis on distinguishing between tasks and priorities.

  • Health Considerations:

    • Physical health may decline without regular movement, leading to recommendations such as daily step challenges to promote physical activity.
    • Mental health challenges can arise from prolonged solitude, prompting strategies for effective socialization.

  • Professional Support:

    • The company introduced a therapist as part of employee support, acknowledging the mental hurdles associated with remote work.
    • Book recommendations like "The Power of Habit" provide frameworks applicable to personal and professional life.

  • Traveling as a Remote Worker:

    • Differentiation between long stays and short trips for remote work, with advice on preparedness and flexibility for varying travel situations.
    • Engaging in local culture during travel can enrich the experience of remote work.

In summary, Sergey concludes that remote work doesn't eliminate challenges; rather, it presents a different way of engaging with work. Whether focusing on task management in a remote setting or gaining insights into self-awareness, the choice of how to work ultimately lies with the individual. Resources shared include articles on task prioritization and frameworks for self-improvement, encouraging a proactive approach to remote work.

Lightning Talk: Working Remotely Martians Style
Dolganov Sergey • May 26, 2019 • Hamburg, Germany

Ruby Unconf 2019

00:00:02.600 Until how you hear me? Okay.
00:00:09.269 Okay, um, everyone, you probably met me yesterday, and I received a lot of feedback to discuss about working remotely.
00:00:22.449 Before I start, I want to ask you to pose a question to yourself: Why are you interested in working remotely, and what do you plan to accomplish by starting to work remotely?
00:00:35.730 When you have a question, feel free to ask it on Twitter, so just tag me or even mention the merchants, and we will discuss it in that thread. Either I, Mike, or my colleagues will respond.
00:00:50.410 First of all, this talk would not have happened if my colleagues had not encouraged me, especially due to Polina's story. Who is Polina? When she initially joined the merchants, she never wanted to work remotely, but she was so interested in collaborating with the team that she made a trade-off.
00:01:15.759 It is possible that this trade-off made her face many challenges that you might encounter when starting your remote work journey. One day, she shared her struggles with us, and the first thing she mentioned was the difference in communication.
00:01:34.299 When you start working remotely, communication changes significantly. You begin to work in parallel with your colleagues, which means you can't simply find someone in the office for a chat. You never know when your colleague will respond, so you have to adapt to sharing context differently.
00:01:48.430 Polina discovered that if you can postpone responding to a message from a colleague, it gives you more time to research the problem. Sometimes, you might even figure out the answer on your own. Other times, this extra time can lead to discovering new requirements. Consequently, our team started writing more extensive text and providing clearer descriptions of what we planned to do.
00:02:35.440 The next significant change Polina noted was her environment, as it became different. She found herself working longer hours at home because, previously, while working in an office, she would notice when her colleagues left for the day. At home, she struggled without a clear marker for when to stop working, leading to burnout.
00:03:06.130 When transitioning into work mode, we must actively manage our routines, such as deciding when to eat, start working, and take breaks. Managing time efficiently is essential. All you need are two concepts: tasks and priorities. A task is simply something you track and can determine whether it's completed or not. When faced with many tasks, consider which one to prioritize before starting.
00:03:36.820 I'll share some techniques about prioritizing tasks in the last slide. This is particularly useful in remote work, as it applies not only to tasks from JIRA but also to everyday activities like when to run errands or take your dog for a walk. Polina also noticed that while she worked from home, her health began to decline due to a lack of physical movement since she was not forced to walk to an office.
00:04:11.800 Many of us struggle with mental challenges, especially when spending too much time alone. You face not only physical challenges but mental ones as well. Socializing becomes another task. To address physical well-being, I suggest setting a daily step challenge, for instance, aiming for fifteen thousand steps per day and incorporating rest periods.
00:05:01.880 Addressing mental health can be a more complex topic. However, an interesting change in our company was hiring a therapist as part of our insurance. Understanding why you might procrastinate or feel unmotivated often boils down to underlying issues in your mind.
00:05:30.230 I recommend a book that may help: 'The Power of Habit.' It includes frameworks that can be applied not only to web applications but also to your life. Additionally, consider what changes occur when you transition from working remotely to traveling. There are generally two types of travel situations: long stays and short ones.
00:06:55.160 For long stays, remote work can be especially rewarding. You can prepare for possible problems, much like overnight business trips but with increased planning, like ensuring stable internet access or having backup devices. In contrast, for shorter stays of just two to five days, I suggest being agile, similar to extreme programming, where you tackle small tasks for the trip.
00:07:19.300 For example, try local food, engage with local people, and use these experiences as steps toward planning a longer stay. As I conclude, keep in mind that working remotely versus in an office doesn't inherently solve any specific problems. It merely reflects how you choose to work. Some people may prefer focusing solely on tasks from JIRA, while for others, remote work can offer a deeper understanding of life and self-awareness.
00:09:00.240 Thank you! If you have any questions, please find me on Twitter. I'll share some self-help resources, including a book recommendation that can provide framework insights for personal improvement. Additionally, I've linked to a great article that lists nine ways to prioritize your tasks. This is just a fragment of the overall talk, and I will also provide an article or wisdom on our blog. Thank you!
DS
Dolganov Sergey
1 talk
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