asynchronous communication
- 1. Craftsmanship: (Async) Communication Bart Vanderbeke violin maker: Thomas Meuwissen https://www.thomasmeuwissen.com/ Photo: Rudi Van Beek (http://www.rudivanbeek.be)
- 2. CRAFTSMANSHIP CRAFTSMANSHIP EMPLOYABILITY CAPABILITY Train people well enough, so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to Richard Branson The professionalism I show in my job will allow me to find a new job easily if I were to leave my job. ‘I’ on the slides is you listening to this presentation… I have the skills or build the skills to do my current job professionally. (technology, methods, process,…) ©ARAK7
- 3. Goal of ppt • <I> understand the aspects of optimal communication • <I> can counter the impact of COVID on productivity and team spirit • <I> as a craftsman communicate wisely <I> am proud to be a craftsman (x/f/m) <I> on the slides is you listening to this presentation… violin maker: Thomas Meuwissen https://www.thomasmeuwissen.com/ Photo: Rudi Van Beek (http://www.rudivanbeek.be)
- 5. Funnel & ‘level of an assignment’ PROBLEM GOAL HOW management funnel conflict pyramid criteria strategic tactical operational Why? How? Mani, please build the audio subsystem Arjun, keep the plants alive Mani, build the audio ss and make sure that… Arjun, keep the humidity of the soil at xx% Mani, here is the pseudo code, … Arjun, give the plant 50ml of water every day © Filip Vandendriessche
- 6. Funnel & ‘level of an assignment’ PROBLEM GOAL HOW management funnel conflict pyramid criteria strategic tactical operational Why? How? The lower the level of the assignment • the bigger the risk of disagreement • the more (equivalent) alternatives may exist If you cannot agree on the problem or goal • there is no need to work together and/or • it is not possible to work together © Filip Vandendriessche
- 8. Decide how to comm. = Optimization problem info info info info info info info info JIRA Confluence document presentation chat weekly meeting mail 1-time meeting drop by 𝐼 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜 𝑅 = 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑀 = 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚. 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑦 𝐶 = { 𝑖, 𝑟, 𝑚, 𝑡 } ⊂ 𝐼 × 𝑅 × 𝑀 × 𝑇 𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚. 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 = 𝑖, 𝑟, 𝑚, 𝑡 |𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 information 𝑖 is best shared via medium 𝑚 to audience 𝑟 at time 𝑡 to achieve an overall optimal project result not informing no one nothing 𝑇 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
- 9. Communication Strategy is dynamic • For each piece of information <I> (un)consciously decide the best way to transfer it • Dependent on − project phase − project type − team size − team composition • As a craftsman <I> ask: “Why do we do things this way?” − revise/review the comm strategy during the project ▪ Recurring meetings,… ▪ <I> do not waste my time in useless meetings, <I> speak up! ▪ <I> still need to meet the goals: do not ”throw the baby out with the bathwater” − <I> build on experience of previous projects, but <I> challenge recycling a WoW • Optimization is a continuous process − if <I> adapt the way of communicating, <I> make sure <I> still meet the goals
- 10. OK NOK NOK A craftsman can balance all the parameters ladybug Photo by Courtesy of Sony Pictures - © 2015 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved
- 11. SYNC VS ASYNC
- 14. Research shows… min hr day Probability density Cumulative probability 50% 90% Response time ‘typical’ Most Emails Answered in Just Two Minutes, Study Finds
- 15. Marshmallows, can u resist them? ! Sync → Instant gratification Async → delayed gratification dopamine shot=pleasure Synchronous comm is addictive predictor for success in life serotonine=satisfaction the toddler & marshmallow experiment
- 16. Result of an overly synchronous life Q OF WORK ↓ STRESS ↑ PRODUCTIVITY ↓ EXHAUSTION (Feeling of) not being productive Trying to compensate Shallow work iso deep work TOO MANY INTERRUPTS FOMO
- 17. DEEP work vs Shallow work • Cal Newport • Architecting and coding requires DEEP WORK • deep work vs shallow work 6 ways to boost focus • Cal Newport, Deep work. (boekbespreking) Shallow Work Deep Work <I> do not create much new value <I> create new value <I> can do this while being distracted <I> do this free from distractions <I> do this as a routine <I> push cognitive capabilities to their limit Killers: social media chat tools mail pop ups news pop ups office noise interruptions same intensity as (training for) top sport
- 18. (A)Sync: the balancing act • GOAL − <I> optimize the need for synchronous communication without compromising the overall goals − <I> make Deep Work the default • SOLUTION − <I> deliver Q info − <I> optimize the need for interrupting others − <I> I do not rely on real-time responses ▪ Use waiting time productively − <I> switch off (mail) notifications − <I> I am not led into temptation by FOMO − <I> use tools properly ▪ Mail wo notification=async / Teams with notification= sync / chat=sync / meeting=sync − <I> plan my communication ▪ Async is the default − The Art of Async: The Remote Guide to Team Communication SYNC A-SYNC Photo by Courtesy of Sony Pictures - © 2015 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved
- 19. A sw craftsman communicates wisely For… I ask myself… <I> deliver Q info Can I formulate my message clearly, accurately, unambiguously? <I> optimize the need for interrupting others Do I really need an answer now? <I> do not rely on real-time responses What can I do while the answer is not yet there? <I> switch off (mail) notifications Do I really need to be always online? <I> I am not led into temptation by FOMO <I> use tools properly Am I using the appropriate tool? <I> plan my communication 𝑖, 𝑟, 𝑚, 𝑡 = info, receiver, message, time? Shallow Work Deep Work <I> do not create much new value <I> create new value <I> can do this while being distracted <I> need to do this free from distractions <I> do this as a routine <I> push my cognitive capabilities to their limit Photo by Courtesy of Sony Pictures - © 2015 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved
- 20. COVID & SOCIAL CAPITAL https://dentistry.uic.edu/patients/oral-health-overall-health
- 21. Social capital • Social capital − The various connections an individual has that provide him with some kind of resource − Close colleagues/friends and distant acquaintances − You build it over time • Importance − People with a high social capital are happier and healthier − Low social capital is as negative as being obese or smoking − At work: It creates a foundation of trust on which you build • New Scientist, Aug 15, 2020, p32-36, “Missed Connections” • ‘burning’ capital − Satya Nadella: “Although… the shift to digital interaction was going relatively smoothly he wondered if we were burning the social capital built up over years” • capital ‘leaking away’ − Shared experience ▪ doing things together (men) ▪ communication (women) − Loss of non-verbal comm ▪ Touch ▪ Spontaneous laughter − Weak ties ▪ “coffee machine / water cooler contacts”
- 22. So…. • capital ‘leaking away’ − Shared experience ▪ Leave room at start/at end of meeting for social interaction • How was the weekend? ▪ Plan team-days @ the office ▪ Use voice-chat, rather than typing − Loss of non-verbal comm ▪ Switch your webcam on − Weak ties ▪ ? • Be careful with / be kind in typed messages seeing this photo w people smiling and touching improves the bond amongst all of us