We can separate office work into:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Hard work: researching, calling people, transcribing conversations, managing etc. This is, in theory, the productive work that we are paid for. It is also the part that can be done from home. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Soft work is the vague middle space of weekday activity that isn’t hard work but also isn’t not-work: getting coffee with a co-worker, catching up about the NFL.</li></ol>Surprisingly enough, coming into the office is all about soft work.

The office is for Soft Work not Hard Work

The value of soft work was the unmistakable conclusion of a paper from Dave Holtz of UC Berkeley and Siddharth Suri, Longqi Yang and Sonia Jaffe of Microsoft. They studied the effect of the first six months of the pandemic on 61,000 Microsoft employees and found that remote work caused “collaboration to be more static and siloed,” they concluded, noting a sharp decrease in communication across groups that made it harder for “employees to acquire and share new information.”

Remote Work Under the Microscope 

In the workplace, there are two main types of connections:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">In-group connections: These are the connections we have within a formal team, working under the same manager.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Out-group connections: These are the informal friendships that form throughout the company and rely on "soft work" to maintain them.</li></ol>Having strong connections with both in-group and out-group colleagues is crucial for a successful and fulfilling work experience. So make sure to invest time in developing and nurturing these connections! 👋

The Importance of Work Connections

Remote work can be more productive for individual contributors, but it kills communication between silos, which it turns out is the engine for creativity and innovation. 

The pandemic disrupted soft work—the gossip, eavesdropping, and casual relationship-building that aren’t a formal part of your job.

communication

Communication

business

Business

creativity

Creativity

humanresources

Human Resources

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Hard Work Isn’t the Point of the Office

When scheduling meetings it's important to open the door for others first. Instead of simply sending over your Calendly link and saying "Here is my Calendly link", you can ask them to first give their availability. For example, you might say:"Feel free to share some times you’re available, or you can also pick from my Calendly if it’s easier."

Ask for their availability before sharing your Calendly link

Is Calendly rude? Only if you’re rude about it. Follow the basics of scheduling etiquette, and your invitees will appreciate the time you’ve saved everyone!

remotework

Remote Work

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

marketingandsales

Marketing & Sales

How to Share your Calendly Politely

Audiences not only want to stumble across great work, but they, too, long to be creative and part of the creative process. By letting go of our egos and sharing our process, we allow for the possibility of people having an ongoing connection with us and our work, which helps us move more of our product.

Process matters

In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

books

Books

In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey—getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery—let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity— what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing—and the dangers of oversharing—to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

I’m a writer who draws. I make art with words and books with pictures. Author of Steal Like An Artist and other bestsellers. Visit my website: http://austinkleon.com/

Austin Kleon

Show Your Work!

Synchronizing your schedule with workplace stakeholders is essential to take time for traction in your day. Without visibility of how you spend your time, colleagues and managers are more likely to distract you with superfluous tasks.Synchronize as often as your schedule changes. If your schedule template changes from day to day, have a daily check-in. However, most people find a weekly alignment is sufficient.

Sync with Stakeholders at Work

These ideas are a summary of the Part 2 of Indistractable - Make Time for Traction. Soon I will publish more ideas respecting the remaining parts of the book in order to go deeper as it deserves.

'A must-read' Mark Manson We are living through a crisis of distraction. Plans get sidetracked, friends are ignored, work never seems to get done. Why does it feel like we're distracting our lives away? In Indistractable, behavioural designer Nir Eyal reveals the hidden psychology driving you to distraction. Empowering and optimistic, this is the book that will help you design your time, realise your ambitions, and live the life you really want. 'If you value your time, your focus or your relationships, this book is essential reading' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind 'A guide to staying focused in an age of constant distraction' Guardian 'Exactly what most of us need in order to focus on what is important, rather than the dazzling, illuminated, unsatisfying distractions of modern life' Matt Haig 'Does exactly as it promises. Amazing' Chris Evans 'The best guide I've read for reclaiming our attention, our focus and our lives' Arianna Huffington

productivity

Productivity

timemanagement

Time Management

"Indistractable provides a framework that will deliver the focus you need to get results." —James Clear, author of Atomic Habits "If you value your time, your focus, or your relationships, this book is essential reading. I'm putting these ideas into practice." —Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind   National Bestseller Winner of the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award Included in the Top 5 Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible Included in the Top 20 Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year by Amazon Featured in The Amazon Book Review Newsletter, January 2020 Goodreads Best Science & Technology of 2019 Finalist   You sit down at your desk to work on an important project, but a notification on your phone interrupts your morning. Later, as you're about to get back to work, a colleague taps you on the shoulder to chat. At home, screens get in the way of quality time with your family. Another day goes by, and once again, your most important personal and professional goals are put on hold. What would be possible if you followed through on your best intentions? What could you accomplish if you could stay focused? What if you had the power to become "indistractable?" International bestselling author, former Stanford lecturer, and behavioral design expert, Nir Eyal, wrote Silicon Valley's handbook for making technology habit-forming. Five years after publishing Hooked, Eyal reveals distraction's Achilles' heel in his groundbreaking new book. In Indistractable, Eyal reveals the hidden psychology driving us to distraction. He describes why solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off our devices: Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more. Eyal lays bare the secret of finally doing what you say you will do with a four-step, research-backed model. Indistractable reveals the key to getting the best out of technology, without letting it get the best of us. Inside, Eyal overturns conventional wisdom and reveals:    • Why distraction at work is a symptom of a dysfunctional company culture—and how to fix it    • What really drives human behavior and why "time management is pain management"    • Why your relationships (and your sex life) depend on you becoming indistractable    • How to raise indistractable children in an increasingly distracting world Empowering and optimistic, Indistractable provides practical, novel techniques to control your time and attention—helping you live the life you really want.

Nir Eyal is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Nir Eyal has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Nir Eyal's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Nir Eyal

Indistractable

Instead of acting on your assumptions, go to the facts. Understanding the individual styles of employees can also give interactions more context and help avoid misunderstandings.
<ul>
<li>Prioristizers are logical, analytical, and data-oriented people who focus on goals and outcomes. They don't like to engage in chitchat.</li>
<li>Planners thrive with structure, planning, and talking about the details. They often communicate in bullet points and numbers.</li>
<li>Arrangers are supportive, relationship-driven team members who work best when they form connections.</li>
<li>Visualizers are big-picture thinkers who want minimal details. They will often email at the last minute, and apologize for short deadlines.</li>
</ul>

Virtual communication: how to avoid misunderstandings

When working virtually, it can be easy to make assumptions or jump to conclusions that damage relationships with your colleagues or supervisors.


Hard Work Isn’t the Point of the Office

How to Share your Calendly Politely

Show Your Work!

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

Indistractable

CURATED BY

Hard Work Isn’t the Point of the Office

How to Share your Calendly Politely

Show Your Work!

It's time to Read like a Pro.

Indistractable

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.