Hierarchical systems are the framework for creativity. They help you make sense of the world’s superficial chaos and create new, structured value out of it. The good news is, harnessing the power of hierarchical thinking isn’t that difficult. In today’s article, we revisit the concept of hierarchies in knowledge management. You’re going to learn how hierarchical systems can help you process information, stay organized, make better decisions, and solve complex…
The recipe for a productive video conference is simple. Take a clear agenda, add willing participants, and set it to a quick, vigorous boil. But there’s one secret ingredient all distributed teams need but few use—a crisp meeting notes template to put things down in writing. Writer and business management expert Patrick Lencioni says that “the majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.“ And we can’t but…
Navigating a 100% remote workplace can be tricky, especially when you’re not exactly the most confident person in the world. The good news is, we’ve put together five confidence-boosting tips that’ll help you tune in to virtual office vibes in a jiffy. 🤔 How Do You Define Confidence? 1. self-assurance: trust in one’s abilities, capacities, and judgment.2. a belief that one is capable of successfully meeting the demands of a…
Although word-processing has come a long way since WordStar days, many contemporary writers—George R. R. Martin included—still use legacy software for a frictionless, distraction-free writing experience. If you’re looking for a minimalist creative environment but don’t feel like going (way) back in time, we have something just for you. In this mini-guide, we’ll show you how you can use Taskade to conduct research, organize reading notes, outline documents, and—wait for…
Want to overcome distractions at home once and for all? Well, let’s just say you’re not the first remote worker to ask the question. If you feel you’re deep in the limbo of chronic procrastination, we’ll put you back on track in a jiffy. Work-from-home comes with some cool time-saving superpowers. ⚡️ Not only can you spend less time on prepping your food and work clothes, but you can also…
If you’re like most “fresh” remote workers, chances are the new reality without a commute gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling. But as it usually happens with lit things, there’re some caveats too. In this case, it’s WFH procrastination that spoils all the fun. Whether you’ve fallen in love with remote work or already miss your cubicle, one thing’s certain. Motivating yourself to get work done at home is…
Terry Crews doesn’t check his email before hitting the gym, but it’s a safe bet that everyone else does. Over the course of almost 50 years (!), email has become a staple in our professional lives. Now that the modern workplace pivots to remote, it’s about time we challenged the status quo: Does @mailto belong in remote workflows? 🤔 If you’re like most knowledge workers, chances are you have a…
Written communication is going through a renaissance of sorts. With the rise of remote work, the ability to express thoughts in a clear and organized manner is in high demand. But while asynchronous communication these days is mostly about chat, emails and texts, there’s another writing skill you should master — how to write a memo. Memos (memorandums for short) aren’t only a domain of high-profile CEOs. They’re a great,…
Remember the 1992 Glengarry Glen Ross scene where Alec Baldwin’s character schools the sales team on the principles of Always Be Closing (ABC)? That’s some A-level mentoring right there. Wouldn’t it be cool if fully distributed teams could get a *similar* learning experience through remote mentoring sessions? 🤝 What’s Remote Mentoring? 📘 Mentoring: employee training system under which a senior or more experienced individual (the mentor) is assigned to act…
As more companies are extending their remote work policies, we thought it might be a good time to revisit the concept of work from home (WFH) and see where it stands today. While the growing popularity of flexible, off-site work arrangements is a positive thing (even if it’s by necessity), the concept of a fully remote workplace is still intimidating to many. If you’re new to remote work or just…
Workplace camaraderie among distributed teams… An urban legend? A mythical creature? Building a culture of companionship and solidarity is a dream come true for leaders in distributed organizations. In this article, we set out on a quest to answer these questions. You’ll learn how workplace camaraderie can make employees happier, more engaged and satisfied with their work. You’ll also see what happens when companionship wanes or, worse still, never develops. …
🕺 Why Originality Matters There’s a fairly common theory about the spread of new ideas. Maybe you’ve heard of it. The diffusion of innovations theory suggests that groundbreaking ideas, discoveries and movements start with a certain type of person. The innovator. 👩🏻🔬 💡 Innovators are the people who blaze the trail, whether that’s something serious like forming the theory of gravity or a silly fashion trend, like wearing a fanny…