149 - 1,000 Days of Distributed at Atlassian (Annie Dean, VP of Team Anywhere at Atlassian)
Jan 22, 2024
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Annie Dean, VP of Team Anywhere at Atlassian, shares their learnings from 1,000 days of distributed work, including a calendar redesign experiment, the impact of in-person gatherings on team connection, and the ROI of real estate at Atlassian.
Intentional togetherness during in-person team gatherings boosts team connection by 37% and the effect lasts for four to five months.
Adopting a distributed work model allows companies to significantly reduce real estate costs by utilizing only 50% of their previous real estate footprint.
A calendar redesign experiment that prioritizes important work and efficient collaboration can lead to increased progress and decreased meeting time.
Deep dives
Importance of Adopting a Product Mindset for People Leaders
The podcast episode explores the importance of people leaders adopting a product mindset when building the employee experience. The speaker mentions three products that every company is building: the product for customers, the product for shareholders and investors, and the product for employees. The chief people officer is usually responsible for the third product, which involves creating a positive employee experience. The speaker emphasizes the need for people leaders to map out critical moments for employees, identify areas for improvement, prioritize actions, and assign owners for implementation.
The Value of In-Person Team Gatherings for Distributed Work
The podcast episode discusses the value of in-person team gatherings for distributed work. The speaker highlights the importance of intentional togetherness, where teams come together in the office for three to five days to focus on tasks, build social bonds, and enhance team connection. Data from the company's experiments show that intentional togetherness boosts team connection by 37% and the effect lasts for four to five months. The speaker also emphasizes the significance of providing high-quality in-person experiences for early-career employees and ensuring sufficient time overlap with managers and collaborators.
Optimizing Real Estate Costs in a Distributed Work Model
The podcast episode explores the financial aspect of real estate in a distributed work model. The speaker mentions that Atlassian has found that they only need around 50% of the real estate they would have used prior to adopting a distributed work model. This results in significant cost savings for the company. By analyzing the business performance of their office footprint, Atlassian has developed a methodology for understanding the impact of office spaces on business outcomes. This approach allows for a more strategic and cost-effective utilization of real estate resources.
Improving Focus and Collaboration through Calendar Redesign
The podcast episode discusses the importance of rethinking how teams work and stay connected, particularly when working remotely. The speaker highlights the challenge of balancing meetings and focused work time, and how the default approach of filling calendars with back-to-back meetings hinders productivity. The speaker shares the results of a calendar redesign experiment, where teams left open slots for focused work and allocated time for open collaboration. The experiment led to increased progress and decreased meeting time, demonstrating the value of prioritizing important work and efficient collaboration.
Embracing Distributed Work and Building a Refreshing Culture
The podcast episode delves into the benefits of distributed work and how it can contribute to better outcomes and a refreshing culture. The speaker mentions how distributed teams allow for different communication and connection methods, promoting diverse perspectives and the use of documentation. The episode highlights the organization's values as a key factor in shaping its culture, reinforcing the importance of alignment and intentionality in work. Additionally, the speaker emphasizes the need for leaders who are open to innovative approaches and willing to leverage technology to drive change and optimize work processes.
Annie Dean, VP of Team Anywhere at Atlassian, joined us on The Modern People Leader.
She shared Atlassian’s learnings after 1,000 days of distributed work: their calendar redesign experiment, the impact of in-person gatherings on team connection levels, and the ROI of real estate at Atlassian.
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(4:03) Good news stories
(9:17) Annie's journey from practicing law to becoming a leader in workplace innovation.
(14:22) Transition to Atlassian and the philosophy of 'Team Anywhere'.
(20:59) Discussion about Atlassian's core values and its unique Australian influence.
(24:53) Launching the '1000 days of distributed Atlassian' report and its insights.
(27:06) The significance of data-driven decision-making in a distributed work environment.
(31:15) The importance of setting priorities and how it shapes Atlassian's work culture.
(37:09) Exploration of time zone impacts on team effectiveness.
(39:18) Addressing challenges in distributed work environments and measuring team connection.
(43:33) The role of real estate and office space in Atlassian’s distributed model.
(47:25) Annie's thoughts on building a strong company culture in a distributed setup.
(52:00) Closing thoughts and takeaways from the discussion.
