How Fortune 500 Engineering Manager approaches hybrid work with Rachel Trana from Grainger

What makes hybrid and remote teams successful? 

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah sits down with Rachel Trana, Senior Engineering Manager at Grainger, to explore strategies for thriving in flexible work environments. Rachel shares how practices like pair programming, effective status updates, and intentional onboarding can help teams stay aligned and productive. She also talks about the unique challenges of fostering communication and connection in a hybrid setup, offering practical advice for leaders and team members alike.

If you’re navigating hybrid or remote work and looking for ways to make teamwork seamless, this conversation is full of tips and insights to take back to your team.

Highlights:

• How to create effective kickoffs for hybrid and remote teams
• Why pair programming is a core practice for sharing context and building communication skills
• The importance of clear, concise status updates in daily workflows
• Strategies for improving onboarding processes in evolving work environments

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) – Kicking Things Off with Rachel Trana

(02:30) – Grainger’s Flexible Hybrid Work Approach

(04:11) – The Importance of Kickoffs and Context in Team Success

(08:36) – How Pair Programming Builds Communication and Technical Skills

(16:22) – A Story of Success: Effective Pairing in Complex Projects

(17:34) – The Role of Status Updates in Keeping Teams Aligned

(22:04) – Rethinking Onboarding for Hybrid Teams

(26:32) – Lessons Learned from a Heavy-Handed Approach to Process Change

(31:47) – Navigating the Challenges of Isolation in Hybrid Work

(33:55) – Final Takeaway: Alignment and Communication

Resources:

Connect with Rachel Trana on LinkedIn 

More about Grainger

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