Issue #10: Cut me some #Slack
Is Slack the great equalizer? We wanted to share a couple of articles that dive into Slack's rise and explore the impact it's had on worker / employer relations, women in the workplace, and more.
#1 Great long read from The Atlantic: How slack upended the work place
"For millions of people, Slack is a verb, a utility, and a way of life. It has spawned competitors from Facebook, Microsoft, and Google; all told, chat is now the second-most-common computer activity, after email, according to RescueTime, productivity software that tracks users’ screen time."
[...]
“'I talk to other CEOs and they all hate it,' Anil Dash said. Part of that, Dash thinks, is because Slack largely came to them from the bottom up. 'They would never articulate it this way, I think, but it has a radical architecture. They can feel it: Slack lets people collaborate, organize, communicate in ways I did not expect [them] to and I did not choose.'
[...]
"On Slack, everyone has the same size megaphone, regardless of hierarchy or chain of command."
#2 Also from The Atlantic, a part tongue-in-cheek and part earnest account of What Slack does for Women
"Now I feel like I can throw all these books in the garbage, because the only things that matter to my work success are the sentences I type into Google Docs and the sentences I type into Slack. I don’t have to smile, I don’t have to worry about my vocal tone, and no one cares how I’m sitting."
Finally, on this theme: are you interested in fostering an environment of inclusion and equality in your company? Check out this webinar from Greenhouse: Advancing equality in a distributed work environment (email required)
In the News
Interested in learning how some of the best manage their large and sprawling remote teams? Running Remote is hosting a cool event next Friday October 29: Ask me Anything (AMA) - with Chase Warrington, the head of Remote at Doist: managing 100+ employees across all timezones. (You'll recall Doist is the creator of Twist, the async communications app we profiled last week).
Creating an at-home work space you love can really take your remote working experience from so-so to spectacular. The New York Times explores some of the more creative approaches people are taking to updating their spaces: A New Meaning to ‘Working in the Garden’
Employers aren't the only ones saving money with remote work. Forbes covers some of the financial benefits of working from home: How Remote Work Can Transform Your Finances
Tips & Recommendations
Trying to get used to returning to the office? We've got you covered:
First, for you: Return to office stress: 5 ways to mentally prepare, from a therapist
Second, for your beloved pet: 11 items to ease your pet's separation anxiety when you head back to work
...and one more thing
To celebrate the Digital Nomad lifestyle, we feature a few photos each week of someone enjoying their freedom and flexibility. Email us your photos to be featured!
This month, I'm sharing some photos of my own journey as my wife & I make our way across the country in our converted van. Below: Badlands National Park in South Dakota
