S 01 | Ep 38 Revolutionizing Company Culture

Strategies for Success in Remote Work Environments

Brett Putter is an author and specialist in the field of organizational culture development. He is the founder and CEO of CultureGene, a Culture Leadership Platform supporting companies to build high-performance hybrid and digital-first cultures. Brett has published two books on company culture: "Culture Decks Decoded" and "Own Your Culture".

Key Takeaways

(00:00-09:29) Key strategies for adapting to remote work

(09:29-17:08) The leadership styles of office-based and remote leaders

(17:08-24:24) The concept of social capital

(24:24-31:55) Strategies for the Remote Performance Management

(31:55-41:58) Insights from Netflix and Beyond

(57:25-1:01:58) Local Connections in a Remote World

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Leading the
Remote Revolution

Brett Putter, drawing on research from remote-first companies, emphasizes that the shift to remote work necessitates a fundamental change in leadership, moving towards asynchronous communication and remote-first operations to foster genuine connections in distributed teams. He contrasts traditional charismatic leadership with the effectiveness of coaching and emotional intelligence in engaging remote teams, highlighting the importance of connecting on an emotional level rather than relying on physical presence.

1. Key strategies for adapting to remote work

With organizations adapting to remote work as the new norm, the conversation explores the disconnect between traditional leadership practices and the evolving needs of a distributed workforce.

Brett Putter highlights the need for an overhaul in leadership approaches, underscoring the shift towards asynchronous communication and remote-first operations. Drawing from his extensive research on remote work companies like GitLab and Buffer, Brett advocates for embracing asynchronous communication to develop genuine connections and community in the absence of physical proximity.

The discussion also examines the unique dynamics of different organizational cultures, from tech-driven open-source communities to traditional sales organizations, and identifies key strategies for adapting to remote work across diverse contexts. Brett stresses the importance of documenting processes and being transparent to maintain alignment within remote teams. As organizations grapple with the challenges of remote work, Brett advocates for a fundamental shift in the operating system of leadership to effectively support remote and hybrid work environments.

We now have a post-pandemic operating system. And so we are expecting somehow for this post-pandemic operating system to evolve itself quickly. We're expecting these things that we had in the office to be replicated automatically. That's just not going to happen. (Brett Putter)

2. The leadership styles of office-based and remote leaders

The speakers challenge traditional notions of charismatic leadership and uncover the importance of emotional intelligence in connecting with remote teams.

Brett shares insights from studies contrasting the leadership styles of office-based and remote leaders, highlighting the effectiveness of coaching and facilitation in remote settings. He emphasizes the need for leaders to connect with their teams on an emotional level, rather than relying solely on charisma and physical presence.

The conversation evolves to discuss practical strategies for lifting the energy level within remote organizations. Alex shares his experiences of using storytelling and reinforcing the company's mission to inspire and motivate his team. Brett suggests additional approaches, such as focusing on customer-centricity and reinforcing the organization's purpose.

3. The concept of social capital

Brett talks about how important it is to remind your employees of the mission, vision, purpose and values of the organization, especially in a remote work environment where distractions can easily obscure these guiding principles.

He introduces the concept of social capital as the value derived from mutual recognition and understanding within an organization. Brett explains that emotional proximity, rather than physical proximity, is key to developing this social capital, and leaders must focus on recognizing and celebrating the moments that matter to their teams.

Alex shares his own experiences implementing Brett's recommendations, including incorporating breakout sessions into meetings to encourage emotional connections among team members and celebrating personal milestones like birthdays in a meaningful way. Alex highlights the positive impact these initiatives have had on his team's morale and sense of community.

It's very easy for somebody working in a remote environment to forget why they're doing it and forget the purpose. Because they've got the cat that needs feeding, their daughter needs to be taken to school or whatever it is. It's quite easy to forget the mission, vision, purpose and values. When you're in an office, you experience it more, and it's easier for leaders to call it out in an office. (Brett Putter)

4. Strategies for the Remote Performance Management

Brett shares stories and practical methods for nurturing team cohesion and drive, particularly in virtual work environments.

He talks about how important it is to recognize the partners of new hires through personalized gestures like sending flowers or chocolates, highlighting their integral role in the team's fabric. Moreover, he explores the concept of task-relevant maturity, a framework for customizing training and support based on individual competencies in specific tasks.

Alex engages by exploring the implications of these innovative strategies for communication and progress tracking within remote teams.

5. Insights from Netflix and Beyond

The speakers dissect the challenges organizations face in adapting to remote work dynamics, particularly in areas such as training, documentation and communication.

Brett underscores the importance of having up-to-date playbooks and documentation to navigate asynchronous work settings effectively. He emphasizes the need for professionals to possess self-management skills.

The conversation evolves to explore whether organizations are "doomed" if they lack structured processes and whether certain personality traits are necessary for success in remote work environments. Brett argues that while some people may naturally excel in such settings, creating systems and processes is essential for overcoming friction and ensuring business continuity.

Drawing insights from renowned companies like Netflix, Brett reflects on the relevance of their culture deck in today's remote-first world. Despite changes in wording, the core values and principles remain intact.

This is a system mindset you need. If it's not documented and you go from 80 people to 300 people on two different continents, the chaos that you are going to have to deal with is immense. (Brett Putter)

Check the episode's Transcript (AI-generated) HERE.