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Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

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Re: Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

#21
post #14

The notion that loneliness is the biggest distraction is a revelation to me. I have worked from home for 12years but didn't recognise this as an issue I face until now. Sometimes I just crave talking with someone about what I am working on. If I am designing something I can't just call the people that do fabrication on my team because they are busy working on the last thing I designed. We're so asynch and efficient t…

I'm really glad I moved into a large highrise before all of this. Every morning I go to the roof and get some coffee/hot chocolate as part of a morning "routine" which seems to be really important for productivity. I usually see a few people on the way there which I think does a lot for my mental health.

That's ... oddly specific. Do you live in my building?

Re: Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

#22
post #16
post #12

Dear team, Latest research indicates that interruptions are a major distraction and cause of stress in the modern distributed workplace. In keeping with our ongoing focus on the wellbeing of our staff, and in order to improve morale and productivity, these new policies are therefore in full effect starting immediately: - Emails are to be checked and sent only during three half-hour periods each day: 8am, 1pm, and 4pm…

You forgot to add after Love, Management --------------------------- Demanded by, Employees complaining --------------------------- Management tends to invent things when they get idle, but it's the employees who demand the virtual fitness challenges, special interest groups (veterans, lgbt, hispanic, book clubs), complain about too many notifications, and send out their own meeting invites without agendas.

Good call, that's actually a valid point.

I wanted to carry on the fun but your rebuttal gave me pause to reflect, and I realised two things, one being that I was not entirely fair in my characterisation of management, the other being that by taking the sarcastic approach I wasn't projecting my values effectively either.

I'm not a big fan of the "I was only joking" routine so I'll take the time to try and straighten myself out.

In the context of the linked article, I chose to read it through the skewed lens of a ham-fisted metrics-driven management-stereotype who doesn't pause to consider the cultural and productivity impacts of half baked and reactive policy directives, leading to much chaos and dismay.

In actual fairness, I would say most managers I've had the pleasure of working under or alongside are not like this at all. I have worked with some truly excellent managers. The stereotype I called on is in my experience much rarer, usually new to the role or inexperienced, but it is what I've seen cause the most cultural and productivity damage in organisations which is why my reaction skewed in that direction.

If I am being totally honest with myself, when I first found myself in a management position, having ratcheted up from a development background, I was naïve and very much process focussed, and acted like every problem could be solved with additional or more detailed instructions. There was definitely also projection here on my behalf.

Nowadays I take a more measured and analytical approach to things in general, being thrust into management was a very tough learning curve but was also ultimately rewarding in terms of personal growth and professional development.

I definitely shouldn't be here taking my frustrations of the day out on random articles, even if thinly veiled in jest. I should have written some music or put on an audiobook instead...

Having said that, I couldn't resist one more before I turn in for the evening.

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Failure to acknowledge receipt of this email by COB will be considered an act of mutiny, and all dissidents will be fed directly to the server room boilers.

This is your first and only warning.

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Anyway, have a good day / night.

Re: Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

#23
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really glad I moved into a large highrise before all of this. Every morning I go to the roof and get some coffee/hot chocolate as part of a morning "routine" which seems to be really important for productivity. I usually see a few people on the way there which I think does a lot for my mental health.

That's ... oddly specific. Do you live in my building?

Possibly, do you live in VA?

Re: Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

#24
I think a lot of this holds true. Our team experimented with what would happen if we stopped having meetings and sending emails, a hard shift into asynchronous working. It was really useful for helping us find the middle ground, what worked well, rather than stringently requiring everyone to work that way for ever. For example, we found that having meeting-free days really helped people focus on important tasks, getting more done.

Re: Study: Focus will shape the future of distributed work

#25
post #22
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You forgot to add after Love, Management --------------------------- Demanded by, Employees complaining --------------------------- Management tends to invent things when they get idle, but it's the employees who demand the virtual fitness challenges, special interest groups (veterans, lgbt, hispanic, book clubs), complain about too many notifications, and send out their own meeting invites without agendas.

Good call, that's actually a valid point. I wanted to carry on the fun but your rebuttal gave me pause to reflect, and I realised two things, one being that I was not entirely fair in my characterisation of management, the other being that by taking the sarcastic approach I wasn't projecting my values effectively either. I'm not a big fan of the "I was only joking" routine so I'll take the time to try and straighten…

You are great. Great post. Cheers!
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