Issue 50: Our Secret to Remote Work
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re working from home and sharing our insights on how to transition out of the office – Joseph Dana, Senior Editor
THE BIG TAKE
Our Secret to Remote Work
You or someone you know is working from home. In an unprecedented move to curb the global spread of the covid-19 virus, millions of people have been told to stay home. We know that social distancing and working from home is one of our best defenses to slowing its spread. While this time is difficult and full of uncertainty, there are some opportunities. As a company, we made the decision last week to go remote for all our staff. We’re redefining the nature of work during this crisis.
Productivity: At Xische, we’ve been experimenting with remote work models for years. The results have been incredibly encouraging. With tools like the Slack messaging platform, Dropbox file sharing, and the Google suite of productivity software, we’ve found that remote work streamlines the impact of our workflow. We get more done in an efficient manner by working with the best people around the world. When the walls of the physical office dissolve, opportunities materialize in all directions.
Don’t forget about you: The most impactful lesson we’ve learned is not about which application or platform is best but rather how to manage the psychology of remote work. One challenge we’ve encountered is trust. In a physical office environment, trust is hardwired into the space. If an employee is not at their desk, productivity alarms go off automatically. Employers, therefore, need to go the extra mile in fostering a work culture based on empathy. Remote work is a necessary component of agile businesses that are ready to seize opportunities in today’s fast-moving economy. As business owners are forced to implement remote work due to covid-19, we should see this as a valuable trial instead of a hindrance.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."
Stephan Hawking
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
How to work from home: Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing our insights on the best practices and psychology of remote work. We’ve been working with partners on four continents and across time zones for years. To help curb the spread of covid-19, we’ve gone remote and so far have seen a spike in our collective productivity.
In our first piece about remote work, we outline how our people-centric approach to business has benefited from remote work systems. By engaging the best people around the world, we can sustainably grow and tackle a multitude of projects. By understanding the psychology of office culture, we’ve created a healthy digital work culture that sustains our growth.
A MESSAGE FROM SpidersSilk
Practical cybersecurity: In today’s online world, cybersecurity is a critical line of defence for any business. Enter SpidersSilk, a Dubai-based cybersecurity firm specializing in simulating the most advanced cyber offences on your technology so you can build your best security defenses. Mitigating risk and protecting digital infrastructure can be achieved through the most advanced adversarial simulations and advisory services.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Online education: Building on our ideas about educational technology, Xische’s director of strategy, Mary Ames, published a piece in The National last week exploring the issue in more depth. “We are in a pivotal moment for educational technology,” wrote Ames. “The lessons learned from this experience with the coronavirus will influence the next generation of platforms and devices that will ultimately transform the classroom as we know it. The next couple of months could change the nature of education forever and we all have a part to play in this transformation.”
Some changes could be forever: During these uncertain times, the only constant is change. The way we live, work, and interact with others has changed. While most of these changes will be temporary, some will stick around. When it comes to work, that’s clear but there are other changes to consider. In this stimulating piece from the MIT Technology Review, the author argues that “all of us will have to adapt to a new way of living, working, and forging relationships.” There’s little upside to resisting these changes. Rather, it’s time to come together and work as one to defeat this historic virus.
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