21st Century Work Life

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/

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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!

In today's episode, Lisette and Pilar talk about the little undesirable behaviours that might start to arise as more people adopt remote ways of working.

If you want to hop on a call to discuss an aspect of the world of work, fill in this form to take part in the Wicked Wednesdays. http://bit.ly/wickedpodcast

Pilar mentions two other podcasts: Management Café and En clave de podcast

Thanks to Saros Research for their ongoing support.
https://www.sarosresearch.com/participate/join-saros-research/?id=100243

Lisette talks about the first ever in person Happy Melly Exploration Day http://www.happymelly.com/happy-melly-exploration-day/

We talk a bit about what it takes to introduce change in organisations and the difficulty of experimenting in the public eye.

As more people adopt remote, will they eventually go back to office-based?

Join us for Virtual Team Talk: https://virtualteamtalk.com/

When we move into the virtual world, our behaviours change in ways we didn't expect.

What does asynchronous communication bring up in us? We can become more rude but also more open. Do we forge tighter connections?

We talk about this article: http://www.fastcompany.com/3061825/the-future-of-work/the-psychology-behind-why-we-share-controversial-opinions-on-slack

As communication becomes more open, will there be more restrictions in how and what we can communicate? Look at the root cause of why people are changing their communication habits and even tools?

Why are geniuses sometimes disengaged at work?

We talk about this bot: https://github.com/joshnewlan/say_what
Pilar mentions this book: Virtual Leadership by Ghislaine Caulat and quotes:

"In the process of learning to become effective virtual leaders, they need to go to a deeper level of reflection and question key aspects, such as their own sense of identity as leaders, their relationships and issues of trust and power."

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.

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

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/

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

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