Re:Why Do We Still Commute?
by ryandrake on Friday November 03, 2017 @11:05AM
(#15619688)
I think you're on to one of the major points. It would be great if companies could run entirely on asynchronous communication. Companies who do this well, and job functions that jive with asynchronous communication, can more easily support remote work. At some companies and with some jobs though, it's totally impossible.
When Mr. Exec wants a status update, and he wants it RIGHT FUCKING NOW. I'm not going to E-mail you and hope that your inbox doesn't have 10,000 other unread messages, or text you and hope you respond. I have to physically hoof it over to where you sit, apologize for interrupting, and get the info Mr. Exec needs. That's hard to do remotely.
If I know in advance I need a response about some topic, sure, try async first. If the deadline's a day out, E-mail, if it's an hour out, text or IM. But, after that if you don't respond, I've got to be the bad guy, break your concentration, and call you. And, if you don't pick up, I'm headed to where you are physically.
If your company culture embraces remote work it also must embrace responsiveness and a communication style that clearly conveys when responses are needed.
When Mr. Exec wants a status update, and he wants it RIGHT FUCKING NOW. I'm not going to E-mail you and hope that your inbox doesn't have 10,000 other unread messages, or text you and hope you respond. I have to physically hoof it over to where you sit, apologize for interrupting, and get the info Mr. Exec needs. That's hard to do remotely.
If I know in advance I need a response about some topic, sure, try async first. If the deadline's a day out, E-mail, if it's an hour out, text or IM. But, after that if you don't respond, I've got to be the bad guy, break your concentration, and call you. And, if you don't pick up, I'm headed to where you are physically.
If your company culture embraces remote work it also must embrace responsiveness and a communication style that clearly conveys when responses are needed.