21st Century Work Life

An "on the spot" recording about the importance of autonomy at work.  Pilar shares a great customer service experience and a really good read. 

In this episode Pilar and Lisette review some of the latest news in the world of work and offer some guidance on how to review your communication infrastructure in your virtual team. Pilar introduces this episode and she mentions this book (well, she mentions Tim Harford but can't remember the title!) Messy: How to be creative and resilient in a Tidy-Minded World She mentions this episode from Evidence Talks about the Right to Disconnect law in France. http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/4994834 Let us know what you think of this format: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ The Conversation with Lisette and Pilar Oh, man, the book... What Lisette has learned about her writing process. We talk about Trello's aquisition by Atlassian and the comments in Michael Pryor's blog post. http://blog.trello.com/trello-atlassian Are we getting used to tools being free? Pilar has discovered a new feature in Zoom which could help more people jump on video calls. Listeners: Does it bother you to see yourself on the screen during video calls? Pilar is co-hosting a new podcast. http://www.futureworkcentre.com/what-we-do/education/evidencetalks/ How CEO's can lead the transition from office-based to virtual and encourage people to use tech mindfully. http://digitalworkplacegroup.com/2016/06/16/im-working-weekends-but-ignore-my-ceo-habits/ France's new law, the right to disconnect. Do we need legislation to encourage conversation? https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/dec/31/french-workers-win-legal-right-to-avoid-checking-work-email-out-of-hours Have a listen to the More or Less episode: Does Sweden Really Have a Six Hour Day? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kt3p6 The Teaching Bit - Building a Communication Infrastructure for your Virtual Team around 30mins mark Pilar talks about the PIC framework to help you build a communication infrastructure for a virtual team and how you can cross-check it with self-determination theory of motivation, to make sure you're not dampening intrinsic motivation. Personal information Information - documents Collaboration When you're designing processes and choosing tools, and role-modelling behaviours , also keep an eye out that you're not squashing any of the three components of intrinsic motivation: autonomy, competence and relatedness. Tools mentioned: Linoit http://en.linoit.com/ Trello Do get in touch! http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/

In today's episode, Pilar chats to Curtis James, who observes people at work and gives visibility to those jobs that are often invisible.  visit www.virtualnotdistant.com An incredibly short introduction. Pilar is actually back after the conversation, to add some comments. Remember to check out these other two podcasts: Management Café and Evidence Talks. The Conversation with Curtis James 03:45mins Curtis's journey working in organisations. http://www.wearefieldwork.com/ Impartiality when working in an organisation, documenting the workforce. How Curtis documents the workforce. How they recreate smells; exhibition workshops. "All companies are going to have good and bad stuff happening in them. The very fact that they're embarking on this kind of work is something that they should be proud of, because it's about being transparent, and this should be the beginning of finding new ways of working." The importance of having collaborators during this type of work. What Curtis has learned about himself and how he's changed as a practitioner. (How he's allowed his work to change him and how he's changed to change the work. )   How BeyondWork and Fieldwork sit alongside each other. Beyond Work Radio. How do we end up doing what we're doing? http://www.thisisbeyondwork.com/work-journal/2017/1/6/beyond-work-radio-show-4http://www.thisisbeyondwork.com/work-journal/2016/12/8/beyond-work-radio-show-2 Working outdoors. Looking for "those whose jobs are often invisible". The multiple reasons why workers are treated badly. Fulfillment vs Happiness. http://virtualnotdistant.com/on-happiness-at-work/ Further questions you could ask after knowing whether your people are "happy". Call to action: share what you do at work and ask others too!   Pilar's Conclusions 42:30mins Don't send people on training, when they don't want to go! (I found following the potato funny.) Happiness at work and work life balance.

Introduction If you work in a virtual team, or are a remote worker or are just interested in making the world of work as great as it can be, join us in Virtual Team Talk. A new podcast on evidence-based practice in organisations http://www.futureworkcentre.com/what-we-do/education/evidencetalks/ Virtual Coffee with Lisette and Pilar 05:30mins 30 Nov Entrepreneur on Fire http://www.eofire.com/podcast/lisettesutherland/ The virus that goes into your calendar. Using online conferences as development opportunities for your group or team and being mindful of how to use the chat space. Using an external event as an internal development opportunity. Lisette recommends this app to recruit for virtual teams http://www.indivizo.com/ and she has some questions to ask yourself if you're recruiting. Has much moved on in the world of work? Companies That Got Rid Of Performance Ratings Aren’t Doing So Well, Sadly http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/long-live-the-performance-review_us_5772ca2ce4b0eb90355c8b05 The 'T' word... And we need to ask ourselves, what kind of leaders are people looking for in organisations? Do they feel like THEY are being listened to? Didn't like this headline, though article is good: How Microsoft Used an Office Move to Boost Collaboration https://hbr.org/2016/10/how-microsoft-used-an-office-move-to-boost-collaboration Quite liked this article too: http://digiday.com/agencies/ad-agency-hot-desking/ Daily commute of two hours – reality for 3.7m UK workers https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/nov/18/daily-commute-of-two-hours-reality-for-37m-uk-workers 10 Workplace Trends You'll See in 2017 http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2016/11/01/workplace-trends-2017/#6954cfed3457 Some headlines we'd like to see in 2017. We go back to our list of Words We'd Like to See Disappear in 2016 to see if any have disappeared... http://virtualnotdistant.com/2016/

Pilar talks to Mauricio Salatino about working in Open Source software and a working remotely within an organisation.  Introduction Asynchronous feedback and assuming positive intent. Online course on leading remote teams: http://virtualnotdistant.com/training/leading-remote-teams-course/ In person course in London and Birmingham 2017 The Conversation with Mauricio Salatino Starts 11:05mins Mauricio lent Pilar the Hardback edition of Open Organization, great book. We talk about it. (Affiliate link.) Reading a book about the organisation you're in and seeing that indeed it does reflect the culture you're part of. What Red Hat does broadly. How do you get involved in an open source project? Turning a hobby into a full-paid position. The open source mindset and being trusted to represent your company in public. Sharing your work in public. Mauricio's specialisms - creating software. Working in a remote set-up. Different kinds of meetings. Working hours. Cv? What cv? Do we really need a cv in the 21st Century? How freedom decreases with scale, as more people are affected by our decisions. "What you can produce with seven people is different to what you create with forty." Step by step approach to creating an organic team process. The value of "self-discovered beaurocracy" https://salaboy.com/

In the first of our Wicked Wednesday conversations, Pilar goes over to @WorkHubs, a co-working space in central London, to talk to Philip Dodson and Bernie J. Mitchell from @WorkHubs, about building a freelance community.  Introduction After Pilar's conversation this morning in the Virtual Team Talk online coworking space, Pilar reflects on some of the things that might stop us from having high quality communication with other virtual team members. https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Tapping People on the Shoulder Working in the same space at the same time. Moving onto video Moving onto Direct Messaging Informal channels Dealing with Noise Sign up to our newsletter or seven part email series. http://virtualnotdistant.com/inspiration/virtual-signup/ The Conversation with Philip Dodson and Bernie J. Mitchell If you enjoy this conversation, check out the podcast with Bernie and Phil: Straight Outta @WorkHubs 16:00mins Origins of @WorkHubs - from a desk to a place wehre you can develop - the The Write Club Why a coworking space is better than Googling From organised events to talking to people informally Bernie reflects on what it's like to be a freelancer; creating an ecosystem for freelancers The value of values and using values to guide our decisions Those things that don't work out... Artwork as a way of developing Not everything is for everyone... What's next for @WorkHubs  

In today's episode, and given their latest travels, Pilar and Lisette ask themselves whether they can really work from anywhere and the kinds of questions to ask ourselves if we're making the transition to remote team. Get in touch: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ A little bit more from a past guest, Michiel Klonhammer from LearningStone about how the world of work is changing. Lisette appeared on Entrepreneur on Fire! Remember to also listen to the Management Café podcast. Would you like to join us for some Virtual Team Talk? https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Virtual Coffee with Lisette and Pilar 06:50mins Updates. Lisette's trip to the US and the live Happy Melly event. Pilar's thoughts on the experiment 'Flipping the Online Classroom' and our unidirectional relationship with the screen. On the other hand, creating a podcast like Management Café which is all about delivery of information is a struggle. We recorded the day after the US Elections, so yes, we talk about that (briefly). We talk about this episode of The Future of Work https://thefutureorganization.com/diversity-inclusiveness-important-today-tomorrow/ noticing that EY is extending flexible work to the whole of their workforce. Why Lisette and Pilar would make terrible digital nomads. Being on the go vs being in your home office / designated workspace. Understanding what you need to do your best work, especially if you or your team are about to make the transition to working away from the office. What context suits you best? Understand the WHY. (Pilar mentions episode 96, about travelling while working http://virtualnotdistant.com/yonderwork/.) What do YOU need, logistically, to do your work? Work Holidays. Questions to ask if you want to work remotely at your company. The 9/80 schedule. Check out this episode of the Collaborations Superpowers podcast to find out more about the 9/80 schedule. http://www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/58-how-the-980-flextime-schedule-works/ What kind of expectations do people have when they start working as a virtual team? When you make the transition, you get to have all the conversations in your team about how you work together that need to be had in any case! Do a pre-morterm! The spectrum of remote work: working from home right to traveling the world.

Join Pilar and 18 guests to reflect on how the world of work and our attitudes to work are changing.  visit www.virtualnotdistant.com Thank you to everyone who has ever appeared on this podcast and a special thanks to all those involved in this special episode: Michael Herman  www.michaelherman.com    Episode 95 Vanessa Shaw www.thehumansideoftech.org    Episode 45 Ryan Behrman Episode 44 Mandy Garner www.workingmums.co.uk   Episode 74 Kristin Messina  www.yonderwork.com    Episode 97 Pilar mentions this article: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/nov/18/daily-commute-of-two-hours-reality-for-37m-uk-workers Michele Bonazza  www.sketchtogether.com   Episode 57 Mandy Garner www.workingmums.co.uk   Episode 74 Melanie Purschel www.teammoodtracker.com Episode 88 Jurgen Appelo http://jurgenappelo.com/ Episode 4 Lisette Sutherland www.collaborationsuperpowers.com every other episode!!!!  Craig Wealand www.inglespodcast.com Episode 66 Mariano Tufró www.leadershipminds.co.uk Episode 18 Lindsay Price www.theatrefolk.com Episode 28  and http://www.theatrefolk.com/podcast/devising-physical-theatre/ Craig Wealand www.inglespodcast.com  and www.enclavedepodcast.com Episode 66 Phil Hayes www.managementfutures.co.uk/books Episode 8 Marta Texidor https://twitter.com/martatmdv Episode 12 Dave Blum aka Dr.Clue www.drclue.com  Episode 94 Richard A. Mackinnon www.futureworkcentre.com Episode 81 Mark Kilby www.markkilby.com Episodes 73 and 95 Andy Cleff www.andycleff.com  Episode 99 Share your thoughts through our Contact Form.

  In this episode Pilar talks to Andy Cleff about virtual teams, running experiments and how the tension between creativity and control. A Thoughtful Thursday conversation. visit www.virtualnotdistant.com Introduction Yes, you can become emotionally connected to people you've never met in person. Pilar writes here about her recent experience leaving a virtual team. https://pilarwrites.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/its-not-the-tech-its-the-people/ Come and join us in Virtual Team Talk https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Pilar mentions the book 'Radical Collaboration', which Andy talks about later. If you are based in the UK or Ireland and you would like to give your opinion on products and get paid for it, click on: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243 08:00mins The Conversation with Andy Cleff  What does play mean in the context of software development. The concept of serious play. For how long can we continue working as a team if the work becomes too intense? Andy's change in mindset from collocated to distributed and even hybrid. "The need to build human connections is really amplified when we're distributed, remote or hybrid." I hope when I'm back to collocated fully whatever I've learned in the distributed space, I bring back with a new appreciation for that environment. "Containers" for virtual teams, it's important that they have their own space, pretty much like collocated teams might personalise their space. Running experiments - how a Book Club can help to learn to deal with conflict. The book Andy mentions is 'Radical Collaboration'. When experiments fail... "I sold the solution, not the problem..." What needs to be in place for a team to want to be involved in experiments. Does it all start with education?! A wonderful story to wrap up our thoughtful conversation. www.andycleff.com @justsitthere https://twitter.com/justsitthere

In this episode Pilar and Lisette talk about whether we should have Happiness Programmes and Happiness Chief Officers in organisations. What do you think?  Introduction Pilar recommends Episode 561 of The Art of Charm, with Dan Ariely http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/dan-ariely-payoff-episode-561/ and Episode 552 of The Art of Charm, with Charles Duhigg http://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/charles-duhigg-smarter-faster-better-episode-552/ Pilar mentions Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reinventing-Organizations-Creating-Inspired-Consciousness/dp/2960133501/ Interested in an online course on leading remote teams? Check out this one next March 2017 http://virtualnotdistant.com/training/leading-remote-teams-course/ Thanks to Saros Research! If you want to give your opinion on products and get paid for it (and you're based in the UK or Ireland), join Saros: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243     The Conversation with Lisette 11:15mins Pilar's update on how different organisations are "going TEAL". Should companies be obligated to provide “happiness” for their employees? And should we have people with “Happiness” in their titles? http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21707502-companies-try-turn-happiness-management-tool-are-overstepping-mark Wellbeing is different for everybody, we need to take responsibility for what is good for us. Do we really understand what we mean by employee engagement and happiness, and is it worth investing in these kind of programmes? http://www.futureworkcentre.com/knowledge-centre/employee-engagement-emperors-new-clothes-2/ The problem with “happiness programmes”. Other articles you might want to read around this: Difference between American and British: http://www.vox.com/first-person/2016/10/4/13093380/happiness-america-ruth-whippman On hiring: http://workdifferent.com/how-to-team-happiness/ On stopping doing things instead of doing different things: http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/how-to-be-instantly-happier-7-things-the-happiest-people-refuse-to-do.html Let us know what you think. Tweet @PilarOrti or @lightling or send us a message through the Contact Form.