21st Century Work Life

Not a proper episode this week either, but Pilar would like to recommend a couple of episodes from another podcast. Another proper episode next week.  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/   And of course, visit www.virtualnotdistant.com for more episodes and blog posts, from the Inspiration page.   

In today's episode, Pilar talks to Kirstin Messina about Yonderwork, a company enabling remote workers to travel around the world as a community. Introduction If you fancy joining Virtual Team Talk, you can apply here: https://virtualteamtalk.com/ Fancy contributing to the 100th episode? Tell us how you think the world of work is changing... or not. Get in touch here: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ Don't forget to listen to (or read the scripts) Management Café. https://managementcafepodcast.com/   Thanks to Saros for sponsoring this podcast! https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243   09:15mins The Conversation with Kristin Messina What is Yonderwork and who joins this community? http://www.yonderwork.com/ How does Yonderwork facilitate the experience of working remotely in another country. Who are the Digital Nomads? Having a community that you can plug into, both on a personal and professional level is what we are really looking to provide people with. Why Kristin set up Yonderwork, with her husband. Why do we need to choose between lifestyle and the work we do? How do they choose the locations to take the community to? Next stops: Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. Are different generations up for this? The One Million per Work Flexibility: http://www.workflexibility.org/ The criteria for a location to take the community. Their remote team. Checking the internet speed in cafés! How Kristin put her team together. How can companies enable people to work location-free? What kind of questions do they ask people who want to sign up to the community? Can't wait to join YonderWork. Click here!

If you're interested in running sessions which are completely relevant to the people attending them, this is the episode for you. Pilar talks to facilitators Michael Herman and Mark Kilby about their experience working together. Introduction Loads of announcements today: Open course on leading remote teams: http://virtualnotdistant.com/training/leading-remote-teams-course/ Join Virtual Team Talk. https://virtualteamtalk.com/ 8th December workshop in London on Managing Remote and Virtual Teams. http://www.thehubevents.com/events/managing-remote-and-virtual-teams-141/ Remember you can listen also to Management Café podcast, about leading teams. https://managementcafepodcast.com/ The Art of Podcasting - a masterclass on finding your voice and podcast format. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-of-podcasting-tickets-28290435454   This podcast is sponsored by Saros Research. If you want to give your opinion and get paid for it. https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243   The Conversation with Michael Herman and Mark Kilby 12:10mins A virtual Openspace on Openspace: http://openspaceworld.org/wp2/osonos/ How Mike and Michael's Co-Facilitation Partnership came about. Agile meets OpenSpace Creating an event to encourage deep conversation, not creating best practice presentations. We're working more and more in a distributed way: What does this mean for the world of work. OpenSpace is if nothing else responsing to change and customer collaboration in creating the agenda about what's going to happen. You can listen to people's experiences of the audacious salon here: http://virtualnotdistant.com/audacious-salon/ http://virtualnotdistant.com/hybrid-teams/ Practicing the Back and Forth. Some people who were there in person on day 1 wanted to join in remotely over day 2. How much preparation do you need to run an open-space event? Intentional choices about technology, shifting expectations around technology. A bit of a summary of Open Space Technology. What happens if nothing happens? Are agile and openspace the same thing? Sometimes we only need to point out to people what they could do. Find Mark on Twitter @mkilby and remotelyagile.info markkilby.com Find Michael here: michaelherman.com His wiki: http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?WorkSpace If you would like to join Virtual Team Talk, go here: https://virtualteamtalk.com/

In today's episode, Pilar and Lisette discuss whether it's important to talk about values in a company and what happens when our values are misaligned.   Updates Lisette and her book. Pilar and her book. Who we should look for to give us feedback on our books. Would you like to join us for Wicked Wednesdays? Send Pilar a quick note and she'll keep you posted. http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/   What we praise speaks values. Discovering and sharing values in a virtual team. How values are reflected in our behaviour. Role-modelling behaviours. How explicitly do we need to share our values and do we need to spell out our values as a company? The relationship between sharing our values and dealing with conflict. This podcast is sponsored by Saros Research. If you want to give your opinion and get paid for it. https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243 Lisette refers to this article: http://seapointcenter.com/team-values/ Values and change.

  In this episode we discover the field of cognitive artificial intelligence, including the importance of understanding human emotions. Pilar talks to Brennon Williams, CEO and Founder of Iridium Systems and Robotics Corporation – ISR. If you have any feedback, get in touch: http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/   Brief Introduction Interested in adapting your workshops to an online environment? Check out the new course Flipping the Online Classroom. Do get in touch with feedback or to join Virtual Team Talk. http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ Thanks to Saros Research for their sponsorship. If you're based in the UK or Ireland and like giving your opinions on products and get paid for it, then head over to Saros' website, using this link: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243   The Conversation with Brennon Williams Brennon refers to Daniel Kahneman's work. (Thinking Fast and Slow) What is Cognitive Artificial Intelligence and where does it appear in our lives? What part do emotions play in this? The importance of context in understanding. "In developing this sort of technology, I learn more about myself." How Brennon ended up in this field and setting up IRS. http://www.isrcorp.co.uk/ How Brennon built his team by bringing in the "Chiefs" first. What did his team do the first time they met face to face? The importance of trust. "Great people love their job, they love what they do and will always try to do more that's expected. You've got to give people that trust and that freedom to expand and work at their best, wherever that is." Will Brexit affect the sector that Brennon works in? The development of AI in the future of work and the benefits to society. Security and privacy.   Read more by Brennon: http://www.brennonwilliams.com/blog/2016/2/12/what-is-cognitive-artificial-intelligence  

In this slightly shorter episode than usual, Pilar and Lisette talk about Digital Detox. How about you? Do you take breaks from your tech? Visit www.virtualnotdistant.com We catch up after almost a month of not podcasting together! Lisette tells us about her honeymoon (not a virtual one!) and her book developments. Pilar talks about.. podcasting. Check out GuideDoc if you like documentaries. https://enclavedepodcast.com/ Lisette went on a digital vacation. Read Lisette's post here: https://redbooth.com/blog/digital-vacation Professional and personal life are led through the same devices. Finding a sense of balance between on and off screen time. The need and addiction of being connected to others. FOMO. (Tell us if you take these digital vacations or digital detox!) How some people have an out of office that says that all emails received during time off will be deleted, email again. Who should set our own boundaries. A digital holiday or just a holiday?

Pilar talks to Dr Clue about how the adventure of a treasure hunt can bring team members closer together and how this adventure is being taken online.  Introduction Some links Pilar mentions: The Management Café podcast blog: https://managementcafepodcast.com/ Mentoring programme starts Weds 14th September http://virtualnotdistant.com/virtual-not-distant-mentoring-group/ Episode 86 with Mandy from Sococo: http://virtualnotdistant.com/collaborative-workspace-sococo/ You can join us for Virtual Team Talk by applying here: https://virtualteamtalk.com/  If you would like to give your opinion on products and get paid for it, head over to: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243 The Conversation with Dr Clue 07:20mins Check out www.drclue.com How a treasure hunt is created. Seeing your city with new eyes. The team experience of the treasure hunt. Why do teams go on treasure hunts? New teams, teams in flux, mergers and acquisitions. The role of appreciation and trust. The tension between competition and collaboration. Our competitive nature. Tribes in organisation. Moving the treasure hunt online, using Sococo. What's the difference between the in person treasure hunt and the online version? "Teamwork doesn't necessarily mean holding hands every second." Levels of trust in teams: Sincerity Reliability Competence Caring Transparency / Vulnerability "Competence doesn't mean perfection." Why you want conflict in your team. http://drclue.com/trump-trustworthy-5-criteria-judging-trust/ http://drclue.com/hillary-clinton-trustworthy-5-criteria-judging-trust/

We're taking another week off but we're using this episode to introduce you to the Management Café podcast, a new show by Pilar Orti (a solo show, ahhhhh!) where she will cover an aspect of managing in the 21st Century. This here is episode cero, but episode one is already out and it's on Great Team Communication. You can subscribe now to Management Cafe, through your podcast app or on the blog www.managementcafepodcast.com

Pilar and Lisette have plenty of thoughts and advice on how best to make the transition from office-based to virtual, in organisations and teams. Introduction Pilar's homage to Federico García Lorca, in case you like this Spanish playwright. http://www.spainuncoveredpodcast.net/lorca-podcast/ ‎ Grab the PDF with questions to help you identify the tools and processes you might want to keep while making the transition to virtual here: http://virtualnotdistant.com/your-transition-to-virtual/ Mentoring Group starts 14th Sept. More details here: http://training-for-virtual-teams.teachable.com/courses/mentoring-group Flipping the Online Classroom bit.ly/flipsept Let us know if you want to join Virtual Team Talk. http://virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us/ Subscribe to the Management Café Podcast https://managementcafepodcast.com/ If you would like to give your opinions on products and get paid for it, in the UK and Ireland, register with Saros through this link. https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243  Virtual Coffee with Lisette: From Office-Based to Virtual Team 09:02mins Pilar recommends The Fizzle Show Should you read emails while you’re on holiday? When should you stop making up stuff for yourself to do? 19:20mins Virtual teams as the excuse to create a new form of team, that operates differently. Virtual gives us an excuse for change. Being clear and honest about why we’re making the transition is really important and it will inform how the change is brought about. Is it because the company needs to cut costs or is it because the employees are asking for it? Are we seeing that pockets in the org are already doing and do we want more of that and help them do it better? Different parts of the organisation will need to come together to collaborate to make this work. Should the transition be fast, so that we just get on with it? Or do we want to take more time to make the transition so that it’s less painful? See what tech you’re already using and evaluate whether you want to ditch, change or sustain. http://virtualnotdistant.com/your-transition-to-virtual/ 26:00 mins Visibility How do you share information? How do people find out about company news? How do you share availability? Identity How do you review your team process? When do you feel most connected? When and how do you gather together? Results How do you make decisions as individuals? How do you make decisions as a team? What do you need to make decisions? How do you solve problems? Trust When do people talk honestly to each other? How is work delegated / taken on? How do we share our values? Upgrowth How do you receive feedback? How do people learn from each other? How do people learn from their experiments (or “trying things out”)? Appreciation How do you show appreciation? How do you celebrate? How do people know they’re contributing to the team? Leadership When do you innovate? When do people take the initiative? How is change introduced? 30:20mins Set up the home office and put processes in place – don’t make a big, elaborate plan but you need to set some targets. Start small with small experiments. Get people go equipment – a webcam, noise cancelling head set, pay for a coworking space. Do an assessment of where things are now and what will people need. How do you want your people to feel about the transition if it’s been made for them? Do you want them to feel supported or made to work in unsuitable conditions from home? These are not “work from home days” when you work at home in order to focus and have some quiet time. You need to think of working from home but still communicating with colleagues. People are thinking You’re giving me unsuitable conditions and You’re disconnecting me from my colleagues – even before we’ve made the change, let’s take a day when we work from home, but when we do need to be working together and see how it feels. Do it little by little before you have to go full on? Even try from the office itself using laptops. Breaking the psychological contract. You are changing what people expect from them employers. Turn this into an obvious opportunity to make things better. How much choice can we give people within those restrictions? Sense of autonomy – we don’t like to feel like someone else is being in charge of our destiny. People might feel like they have to do the same amount of work but in worst circumstances. 39:50mins The separation between home and work life. This might be difficult to do for people when they’re working from home. You’re asking people to stop that split. Beware that when you start working like this, you need to define your working hours and space differently. (Rant about coworking spaces and real estate…) Use coworking spaces, they can help to make the transition! http://virtualnotdistant.com/spirit-coworking/ Online communication. Pilar mentions The Open Organization Different platforms / email lists depending on the complexity of the conversation. Will you need some form of quick, immediate communication? (like Instant Messaging) What should you do if you can’t get hold of someone? (telephone, email?) Will you need to have conversations real-time, that others can access later? (eg video conferencing with recording available) How will you have short, sharp conversations as a group? (maybe through a collaboration platform) How will you have in-depth conversations one to many? (does the collaboration platform allow for blog post type postings/) How will you have one-one in depth conversations? It’s not about the technology it’s about the right technology thoughtfully applied. Are you restricted by the IT department? How should you involve them in the decision to go virtual? How should the IT dept and other staff be communicating? Should you push back so that the old infrastructures get changed? Make sure they understand why you want to introduce those tools? Yes, we know it has been done for ages without using all these new techs, but do we want to continue operating in that way when we can now make it easier? Involve everyone in the process and have transparency. It will show that you care if you involve everyone in making the decision. Start small and start now!

Can you visualise the mood of your virtual team? Yes, you can, with the tool today's guest is creating. Pilar talks to Melanie Pürschel about how she's building the Mood Matrix. Introduction Pilar is running with Judy Rees a course on delivering your workshops online. More info here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/flipping-the-online-classroom-delivering-your-workshops-online-six-90-minute-classes-tickets-26919136863 More information on the Mentoring Group for Managers and Leaders of Virtual Teams here: http://virtualnotdistant.com/virtual-not-distant-mentoring-group/ Thanks to Saros Research! If you would like to get paid for your opinion on products, register with Saros through this link: https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243   The Conversation with Melanie Pürschel Melanie explains what the Mood Matrix is. How will the experience be in a team using this tool? It works well as an early warning system. The Mood Matrix shows how the mood is changing. You then need to use the information to continue the process with the Team Mood Tracker. The next questionnaire starts to help you decide in what field of the team process you need to make changes. The most important factors for virtual teamwork we should look at to understand where we could change something if the team's mood is changing. We also need to look out for the team's mood being split. Some scenarios when you might want to move onto the next stage of tracking your team's mood. Consider the bio-rhythm of people when implementing the matrix. How Melanie developed her matrix through research, started back when she was at university. The subject of anonymity. Personal and team level results. Mel's own journey and her recent partnership building the product. (Pilar refers to Hugo Messer's story in a previous podcast episode.) Get in touch with Mel if you're at all interested in the product and if you have any suggestions of what tools it might integrate with. Who would find this tool useful? http://www.teammoodtracker.com/