Written communication is remote work super power

Post by dkersten » Sun, Jun 21, 2020, 8:45 PM UTC

cutemonster wrote: post #180

dkersten wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate this approach (even more so when I was involved in writing the written communication) because it usually turns into idly waiting for others to finish reading, while I get distracted, bored and just plain could be doing something more productive. I understand the concept and some people must find it useful and valuable, but I’ve personally never got anything of value out of it other than making sure everyone ha…

What about everyone reading the material before the meeting, and a computer aided individual quiz to find out if they did? Unless (all for the meeting really important ppl did), meeting cancelled

Post by cutemonster » Sun, Jun 21, 2020, 11:40 PM UTC

flukus wrote: post #85

jackjeff wrote: post #9

Async communication is suitable to resolve some kind of issues. But it has two drawbacks: participants need to be competent at writing and reading prose (it’s harder than it sounds) and even with the best of care your ideas can easily be misinterpreted resulting in the loss of an async cycle. For problems which are not well defined, and where a lot of decisions need to be taken, especially when they verge toward the…

> it’s a lot easier to have people in a room and hash it out IME it isn't because they aren't an environment conducive to informed debate. It's easy to get everyone in the room to agree, but as soon as you get out and check specifics, think the problem through properly, research what's already in pace, etc, you realize the whole meeting was a waste or worse, you've just committed to something sub-optimal/impossible.…

Post by yazaddaruvala » Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 3:36 AM UTC

cutemonster wrote: post #179

yazaddaruvala wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, it doesn't have to be a "new communication channel", you just documented some best practices for email. > No responding from mobile devices. The poor response rate is just too high. If something was left implicit or de facto re-ask for it to be explicit or de jure. > The reader is quizzed on the the contents of the communication before they can respond (randomly generated quizzes might be amusing). > The reader…

So, don't end the email with "Does everyone approve?" Start with "Unless you disagree, I'll ..." Instead :)

Post by devdas » Tue, Jun 23, 2020, 2:11 PM UTC

cutemonster wrote: post #183

flukus wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it’s a lot easier to have people in a room and hash it out IME it isn't because they aren't an environment conducive to informed debate. It's easy to get everyone in the room to agree, but as soon as you get out and check specifics, think the problem through properly, research what's already in pace, etc, you realize the whole meeting was a waste or worse, you've just committed to something sub-optimal/impossible.…

> you've just committed to something sub-optimal/impossible What about never making decisions at meetings -- instead, let everyone think 1 week after the meeting, and make the decision asynchronously? Eg vote via email Combining meetings and async

Post by cutemonster » Tue, Jun 23, 2020, 3:08 PM UTC

devdas wrote: post #187

cutemonster wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you've just committed to something sub-optimal/impossible What about never making decisions at meetings -- instead, let everyone think 1 week after the meeting, and make the decision asynchronously? Eg vote via email Combining meetings and async

Then there isn't much of a point in having a meeting, is there? Instead, send out a written proposal, require well supported written commentary on the ideas, and then then meeting is to take an actual decision.