Michael Sliwinski: Founder and CEO of Nozbe, a Leading Productivity Tool
Mar 14, 2022
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Michael Sliwinski, CEO of Nozbe, shares insights on productivity, remote work dynamics, and the journey of building Nozbe. He discusses inspirational stories of overcoming age barriers and pursuing passion in business. The podcast also covers hiring philosophy, communication strategies, and the importance of corporate culture in a remote office setting.
Nozbe emphasizes task management inspired by 'getting things done' to enhance team organization.
Shift to task-based communication streamlines work processes and team interactions effectively.
Nozbe promotes strong team culture through bi-annual reunions, video conferencing, and mentorship for new employees.
Integrating task management with communication in Nozbe promotes clarity and asynchronous interaction for increased productivity.
Deep dives
Michael Slavinski, the CEO and founder of Nozbe
Michael Slavinski, the CEO and founder of Nozbe, developed the app to help teams become organized, drawing on productivity principles such as 'getting things done' by David Allen. Nozbe focuses on efficient task management, emphasizing on what to prioritize next and facilitating effective communication through tasks and comments.
Transition to Task-Based Communication
Nozbe transitions to task-based communication to enhance productivity and simplify collaboration within teams. By combining task management with communication features, Nozbe aims to streamline work processes, focus on crucial tasks, and facilitate effective team interactions. The shift signifies a strategic move towards a more structured and purposeful form of communication.
Remote Team Building and Corporate Culture
Maintaining a strong corporate culture amidst a remote team setup, Nozbe organizes bi-annual team reunions where members gather in person, fostering bonds, and aligning values. The company emphasizes video conferencing for virtual face-to-face interactions and internal vlogs to enhance communication and team cohesion. These initiatives support a cohesive team culture and ensure alignment with company values.
Employee Onboarding and Company Philosophy
Nozbe follows a meticulous onboarding process for new employees, engaging in a thorough selection process and assigning mentors to guide newcomers. Encompassed in the 'hire slow, fire fast' philosophy, the company emphasizes culture fit and knowledge sharing through comprehensive onboarding documents and personal mentoring. The approach aligns with Nozbe's commitment to fostering a cohesive team ethos and welcoming new members effectively.
Structuring Communication through Tasks
In Nozbe, structuring life around tasks and task-related comments promotes clarity and productivity. By integrating task management with communication, the platform aims to facilitate asynchronous communication, reducing the need for immediate responses and allowing users to work at their own pace without feeling pressured by real-time notifications.
Entrepreneurial Journey and Passion for Technology
The founder of Nozbe recounts his entrepreneurial journey, influenced by family role models and a love for technology like laptops. Embracing the freedom of location-independent work, he drew inspiration from successful entrepreneurs like Simon Grabowski. Failing in previous ventures led him to create a product that solved a personal need, driving his passion and commitment to Nozbe's success.
Embracing Personal Development and Work-Life Balance
Nozbe's innovative TGIF concept encourages personal development activities. The company values maintaining work-life balance, evident in periodic team reunions and sabbaticals for staff. The founder acknowledges the importance of accepting inevitable employee turnover and cherishes the dynamic nature of building teams.
Remote Work Culture and Employee Onboarding
Nozbe prioritizes remote work culture through video conferencing, internal vlogs, and biannual team reunions. A meticulous onboarding process ensures seamless integration for new employees, emphasizing team support and clarity in roles and responsibilities. The company thrives on open communication and continuous improvement in fostering a collaborative virtual work environment.
Michael Sliwinski is a productivity guy - he’s the founder and CEO of Nozbe - a project management and collaboration tool for busy professionals and their teams.
Nozbe is a web-based tool with apps for all the major platforms. Michael is also a speaker, author of best-selling books, a podcaster and a blogger. He is happily married to his wife Ewelina and they have three daughters. Michael is known for his un-orthodox way of running Nozbe - our company doesn’t have any physical office (#NoOffice) and we dedicate Fridays to weekly reviews and personal development (#TGIF).
Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here, watch is autobiographical TEDxTarnow talk here.
