As a fractional VP of Sales I have had to drop into 15+ companies in the last two years, all fully remote.  As a Fractional Exec you have to hit the ground running so that you can effectively become part of the leadership group and broader team super fast.  Sometimes it has worked, sometimes it hasn't (the remote bit 😎).

Here is my breakdown of what works to create a fantastic remote company.

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The Golden Rules of Nailing Remote Work

Async is King:

Employees can contribute at times that suit their personal productivity peaks and life commitments, reducing the need for real-time meetings.. That's the dream, right? Async video Tools like Loom are total game-changers, letting you catch up or share updates without playing calendar Tetris for meeting times.

Default to async allows you to eliminate a large portion of your ‘let’s check-in’ type meetings.

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Documentation is Your New Best Friend:

Comprehensive, well-written documentation serves as the backbone of the organization, allowing employees to access information and get up to speed on projects at their own pace. This reduces the dependency on synchronous meetings and calls for information sharing.  The company wiki can no longer afford to be a half-forgotten thing of neglect, it needs to be sharpish.

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Videos Over Text, Any Day:

Async video updates are commonplace, enabling team members to convey complex information or provide personal updates in a more engaging way than text-based communications alone. These videos can be viewed and responded to when it suits the viewer, adding a personal touch to remote interactions.

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Coffee Breaks, But Make Them Virtual:

The practice of FIKA, a concept borrowed from Swedish culture, encourages taking breaks for coffee and conversation, promoting well-being and social interaction among remote teams. Even remotely, teams can schedule virtual coffee breaks to connect on a personal level, sharing personal stories or discussing non-work-related topics.  Doing this well goes a long way to replace the 'watercooler' moments which has incredible effects on both team bonding as well as innovation.

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Face Time Matters Too:

Regular in-person catch-ups (where possible) are organized to strengthen bonds, foster team spirit, and encourage collaboration. These gatherings, whether they're strategic offsites or informal meetups, offer valuable opportunities for team building and reconnection, enriching the remote work experience.

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Wrapping Up: The Remote Work Journey

Remember when Shopify  CEO Tobias Lutke said we're just getting started with this remote work thing and that ‘this is as bad as it’s ever going to get”?  He wasn't kidding. It's all about learning, adapting, and making it better as we go. I've seen firsthand how the right culture can make remote work effecitve and how much of a difference it can make for everyone involved.

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I think the really spicy follow on question is, what have you seen that *doesn’t* work for remote cultures?

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