Synchronous and Asynchronous Work
In the era of distributed work, cultures that seamlessly integrate synchronous and asynchronous work will end up with a huge competitive advantage.
Here are a few ways to make that happen:
Interactions will end up falling into one of these buckets – synchronous (in-person/hybrid and remote) and asynchronous. Outline what interactions fit into each bucket. Ex: Standups can be asynchronous. Complex brainstorms can be in-person.
You can have the most impact on productivity by cutting down on meetings. Ask “a lot of why’s” before setting up or accepting a meeting invite. Most meetings should be emails or Teams/Slack messages. Start with an asynchronous option (I use Teams messages) and only set up meetings if that doesn’t work. I’ve been able to cut down on 50% of my meetings by using this mental model.
The offices of the future will be less about getting work done and will behave more like community centers where employees build relationships and a sense of belonging. Be thoughtful and conscious about in-person conversations. Use in-person conversations for brainstorms, nuanced conversations and activities that foster a sense of community.
Build a culture that rewards the ability to write well.
Most of all, try to use a first principles approach to culture in a distributed/hybrid world and resist the urge to go back to how things were. Work will never be what it was pre-Covid