The rules are the same. Treat people well. Expect great things from them. Be human. The details though, they make all the difference. Managing the nuances of engagement and productivity with a couple ...
The rules are the same. Treat people well. Expect great things from them. Be human. The details though, they make all the difference. Managing the nuances of engagement and productivity with a couple thousand miles between you and your team is both science and art. My name is Shane. I have been running a fully distributed team of 20-40 North American creatives for the last 5 years. Our success has come from a cohesive set of technical and cultural systems: the right people, the right environment and the right tools.
* Build the right team: happy, helpful, curious & accountable * The rhythm: offer consistency * Relationships in the void * Use the right tools
TobiLytleExcellent! I look forward to seeing your presentation live.2 years ago
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Shane Pearlman, CEO at Modern Tribe IncI will be presenting 'Leading Without Seeing: managing distributed teams' at NetWork 2010 in SF on Dec 9, 2010 (http://bit.ly/aSMXi2)2 years ago
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Shane Pearlman, CEO at Modern Tribe IncIf you are interested in learning more about project management, the PMI audience I presented to was one seriously knowledgeable group of managers. Look for a group near you! Thanks Glen for the opportunity.2 years ago
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Glen CarlPMI Monterey Bay was happy to host the event for these slides, and see the Shane recognized for his successful business. See our events at http://www.meetup.com/PMI-MBAY/2 years ago
Leading Without Seeing: managing distributed teamsPresentation Transcript
LEADING WITHOUT SEEING Managing a Distributed Team
100% DISTRIBUTED Hi, I’m Shane & I run a company.
A COUPLE OF OUR FRIENDS (some people call them clients) www.shaneandpeter.com
DISTRIBUTED TEAMS REQUIRE A UNIQUE APPROACH The Future of Teams Building The Right team Rhythm Relationships Communication & Technology Conclusion
The Future of Teams 1. THE FUTURE OF TEAMS
DISTRIBUTED TEAM A team of people using technology to work on the same stuff from different places.
Team Structures Distributed w/ different hours Distributed w/ overlapping hours Remote Offices Co-Located Part time Co-Located Increasing Distribution
50 FOOT RULE Teams on separate floors (more than 50 feet apart) actually talk less than a distributed team. Distance Probability of collaboration Same corridor……………………………………. 10.3% Same floor………………………………………... 1.9% Different floor……………………………………... 0.3% Different building………………………………….. 0.4% Study by Bell Labs & University of Arizona 1988
ADVANTAGES Talent Productivity Diversity Minimal Infrastructure Cost Savings Ecological Work - life balance Individual Control
CHALLENGES Isolation Accountability Community & relationships Culture, social boundaries & norms Balance Leadership
The Oatmeal.com
FUTURE OF TEAMS REVIEW The future of work Highly productive Major benefits Significant challenges Calling all leaders
2. BUILDING THE RIGHT TEAMS
THE RIGHT PEOPLE Talented Happy Helpful Curious Accountable
1 OUT OF 5 eventually join the core Not everyone is cut out for working remotely
TALENTED Normal interviews often don’t work Remote interviews certainly don’t Try before you buy Hire slowly and fire quickly
PERSONALITY MATTERS MORE THAN TALENT When it comes to Distributed Teams:
HAPPY HAPPY
HELPFUL HELPFUL
CURIOUS CURIOUS
ACCOUNTABLE
THE RIGHT TEAM REVIEW Failures are inevitable, plan for them Try before you buy Figure out YOUR culture S&P’s: Happy, Helpful, Curious, Accountable
3. THE RHYTHM: OFFER CONSISTENCY
“ I can predict the long term outcome of your success if you show me your daily habits. John Maxwell
How do I win? If your team can’t answer this right off the bat, stop what you are doing. You are about to loose a lot more money.
ARE YOU MANAGING THE QUEUE?
What’s next?
Why, Who, How and When
Why More Is Less
THE REGULAR STANDUP: SCRUM We call it a “Scrum”
What did you do last?
What will you do next?
What is in your way?
Do you need a meeting?
Everything has an OWNER Just because you asked for help or for someone else to collaborate does not relinquish accountability. It is yours until it is done.
Clear Feedback is Not Optional The only true measure of feedback quality: WTFs / Minute Adapted fromanOSNews.com comic
MEASURE PERFOMANCE NOT HOURS “ We should focus on what people get done, not how many hours or days worked. Just as we don't have a nine to five day policy, we don't need a vacation policy. From the Netflix “Reference Guide on our Freedom & Responsibility Culture”
OFFICE HOURS OR OPEN DOOR It’s your call, just be available
Its not out of sight if its in your calendar! Help your team with scheduling. Even our PMs need this.
IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU
Respect the team's time and time-management
Realize they can't always be on your project.
Flex time is contingent on successful availability and communication patterns.
Every time I break rhythm MY TEAM LOSES DAYS.
Rhythm Review Create regular habits Make sure everyone knows how to win Manage the queue artfully Run a regular standup meeting Everything has an owner Provide clear and explicit feedback Figure out a consistent communication pattern Measure performance not time Help people with their time management Respect personal load and priorities
Hello? Anyone there? 4. RELATIONSHIPS IN THE VOID
Where is the ? LOVE
KEYS TO CONNECTING Genuinely care Make time Be artfully intrusive Find things to respect Initiate affection
Dominant Driving Do’er Inspiring Interactive Interesting Outgoing D I Task People S C Supportive Stable Sensitive Conscientious Competent Careful Reserved
Online “Water Cooler”:life.shaneandpeter.com Peter Brandon Dan Dear Bullies, You made me cry Painted Pelicans on My Surfboard Brandon & Alaire’s Puppy Reid Shane Shane Ladybug Family on Halloween New Floors!! Serenity Walks on Her Own!
COWORKING: ALONE TOGTHER
S&P Trip: Panama 2010 COMING TOGETHER Meeting people builds trust
6TH SENSE Working with people you can’t see is like surfing in the dark.
WAIT FOR ME! I’m your leader! It is incredibly easy to become disconnected. As a leader, you might want to pause and see if anyone is following you. Ask your team “How can I be a better manager”?
Relationship Review
Be open, honest and nosy
Pay attention to personality
Hit home runs
Engage using social media
Create online social spaces
Check out Co-Working
You can’t replace face to face
Intuition & self reflection
5. COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY
SYNCHRONOUS VS. ASYNCHRONOUS
COMMUNAL VS PRIVATE
WORK COMFORTABLY Your systems should fit into a user’s habitual workflow. The less they have to change, the higher the rate of adoption.
WORK COMFORTABLY One Duck To Rule Them All Adium
WORK COMFORTABLY Get your tasks & comments in any way you like Email RSS Web API Mobile Project Management System
“ The more universally captured, visible, and searchable communication mediums you use, the better. Avdi Grimm, Wide Teams
One on One Meetings
Group Meetings GROUP MEETINGS Conference Call : iPhone & freeconferencecall.com Conference Suites : Go to Meeting, Adobe Connect Group Chat : Campfire / ICQ / Skype
Getting an idea across Group Meetings GETTING THE IDEA ACROSS Files & Screen Shots : CloudApp Doodles and Notes : Skitch Screencasts and audio : Jing Screen sharing : Team Viewer, Skype, iChat Code : Jsfiddle, Pastebin
EMAIL: TOOL OF LAST RESORT Not transparent Not accountable
ASSET MANAGEMENT What happens when you can’t get a hold of a file from a key person?
BAD GOOD Source Team Team Team Team Team Team You You Team You move on because you have backup.
Control the Source CONTROL THE SOURCE Dropbox SVN / GIT Shared Drives Office (Google Docs, Open Office) Documentation (Wikis)
Try things Synchronize your watches Control the Source TRY THINGS Be agile with your systems Have reviews and elicit feedback from your whole team. Ask people: “What do you know about our team that I don’t see?”
Be agile with your systems Synchronous Vs asynchronous Work comfortably Email is the last option Control the source Collaboration is easy with the right tools Review for feedback Technology Review
6. CONCLUSION PEOPLEPATTERNSCOMMUNICATION
This is not a fad If you ask most people, they love the idea of working from home, and would gladly leave your company for the opportunity.
No matter where you work from Be On Scope, Budget & Time
Find the Right People To accomplish your goals while having a great time!
Set them up to win Provide the information, support and consistency they will need to succeed fabulously.
Bring people together The art of management is in transforming a group into a team
Use the tools And find the ones you are missing
And in the famous words of Bobby McFerrin Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Roberto Lopez
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