Writing is crucial for communication and collaboration in both remote and in-person organizations.

But how do you find and hire great writers? 

Today, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down to share why writing is at the heart of the success of 37signals and why they believe it's essential for every employee to be a skilled writer, regardless of their title or role.  

Listen in as they walk us through the process they use to "Hire Great Writers" from their book, Rework. 

Join us to learn about the critical role that writing plays in collaboration, clarifying ideas, and unlocking solutions to the problems that have been keeping you stuck. Plus, discover how the developers at Basecamp and Hey are using writing to showcase their skills and share the solutions to their challenges. 

Show Notes: 

[00:37] - Jason shares why the cover letter is the most crucial aspect of the hiring process at 37signals.  

[01:34] - David shares how writing works to both set the tone for collaboration and as a 'magic filter' for eliminating BS.

[02:26] - The personal scrutiny filter to use before you bother other people. 

[03:14] - The key to unlocking a stuck situation.

[04:18] - The magic of writing and a few of the by-products.

[05:17] - Meetings are toxic; why writing is a better way to do the bulk of collaboration.

[06:23] - Why 37signals asks you to "show your work" during the hiring process.

[07:53] - Why it's a good idea to "treat code as prose."

[08:39] - No jargon required: designers and programmers need to be able to speak a shared language for a successful collaboration. 

[09:30] - For more behind-the-scenes, check out the technical blog at Dev.37signals, where the people who build Basecamp and Hey share about their work, the problems they've run into, and provide insight into how they've solved them.  

Links and Resources:

The 37signals Dev Blog

Rework
Do you have a question for Jason and David? Leave us a voicemail at 708-628-7850 or email us
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