102 | Knitting Remote Into Workplace Culture | Darren Murph

Building Better Cultures

Darren Murph is an organisational architect who specialises in and knows what works – and what doesn’t. Based on 15 years at GitLab, most recently as Head of Remote, he has all kinds of concrete advice for organisations trying to figure out the correct configuration for their individually distributed workplace models.

Some C-suiters are reluctant to abandon old office-based operations, emphasizing proximity over business results. But looking ahead at the role and impacts of organisational design, Darren believes the forward-thinking, progressive leaders (and ultimately the most successful enterprises) will embrace flexibility, learning and a healthy redefinition of what it means to … build better cultures.

You can check out GitLab’s playbook, filled with information about all things remote, here.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• GitLab was founded as an all-remote company and today has 1,500 team members in more than 67+ countries with no brick-and-mortar offices.
• What to keep in mind when getting started with a remote work design:
• Shift your mindset from where people work to how people work.
• Actively implement programs that combat proximity bias. Leadership can communicate that there is no advantage in working at the office by themselves working from home.
• Audit workflows across your organisation and ask: Will this work if everyone is distributed, or do they need to be in an office? Then build out a changelog based on those jobs that require an office and reconceive them.
• Making remote work viable across the enterprise builds resiliency.
• All-remote or all co-located workplace environments are the easiest to administer because the playing field is even. Hybrid, by contrast, can quickly devolve into the worst of all scenarios with proximity bias and jockeying.
• The easiest way to hedge against proximity bias is to keep senior leaders outside the office by default. Remote work is a top-down proposition and requires conviction.
• Agility is key, and the ability to test, learn, and iterate. People and operations can be modulated based on proactive experimentation.
• Darren references research compiled by the workplace communications platform Slack that reveals interesting insights into the impacts on middle management of the overnight adoption of remote work and the current lack of response on the part of leadership.
• Writers Take Note: The most important thing a company can do is ensure that all employees have strong written communication skills. Effective storytelling will be far more influential in remote environments that don’t rely on or reward charisma and talk. Scott recommends some related reading from a previous guest, John Simmons, author of "We, Me, Them and It."
• On Diversity: Hire a diverse group of recruiters, watch your staffing demographic shift, and broaden by extension.
• Parting thoughts for leaders at companies of all sizes:
• Build the right workplace culture and ethics into your business model.
• Fully embrace a people-first orientation that recognizes the power of uplifting employees with empathy and flexibility.
• Take advantage of the journey and opportunity to get honest, embracing the importance of values fit – not just a culture fit.

ABOUT DARREN MURPH

Named an “oracle of remote work” by CNBC, Darren serves as GitLab’s Head of Remote. He is a visionary in organisational design, leading at the intersection of people, culture, operations, inclusivity, marketing, employer branding and communication.

• About Darren/GitLab
• @LinkedIn
• @Twitter

ABOUT SCOTT MCINNES Learn more about Scott McInnes, your host and the Founder and Director of Inspiring Change, by clicking here.

ABOUT WORKVIVO If you’re struggling with communications in this time of new hybrid workplace conditions, click here to explore Workvivo, a collaboration platform that offers seamless digital integration.