Virtual Office Culture

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀? They are an important part of the way a team works but they don’t always work in the way they were intended. Reviewing rituals together helps people to share feedback, discuss improvements and reaffirm what it means to be a part of your team. We did this exercise today as a team at Amazing If and I thought it might be helpful to share our rituals so that you can see what we do and what we have learned from doing it… (if you have any questions, let me know!) ✅ Amazing If - rituals to keep ⭐️ Mistake moments - working really well to share in Teams as they happen, even better if we bring insights into our meetings to discuss implications ⭐️ Win of the week - working well to share on a Friday. Where people struggle to spot a win the team can help ⭐️ WWW / EBI (what works well, even better if) - really helpful framework to capture learning from projects and events that we want to come back to ⭐️ Squiggly Staycation - valued team bonding moment in a busy year. Learning and connection are the priority agenda items ⭐️ Metrics that matter - very useful monthly meeting where everyone sees how the business is performing. Individuals all own different metrics. ⭐️ Squiggly shout outs - a way to give in the moment positive feedback to someone in the team. Done in meetings and over Teams. 🛠️ Amazing If x rituals to adapt and improve ⭐️ Career conversations - not quite working for everyone in the current format. We’re going to experiment with a quarterly frequency and review the tools we’re using in the discussion to see where they can be improved. ⭐️ Monday meetings - an important weekly meeting to connect and create focus. However, would work even better if for people th consistently share; the one thing that is most important to achieve that week, their highest energy moment in the week, any red flags that the team need to know ⭐️ 121s - a bit inconsistent in frequency. Fortnightly 45 mins going in the diary for everyone. ⭐️ Walk & Talks - dropped out of the diary. Re-educate about the role of a walk & talk (thinking meeting about something that’s on your mind) and add to diary. ⭐️ Experiments - important for our impact and growth. We need to have a simple structure to consistently design our experiments and create a Teams channel to track them ⭐️ Challenge & Builds - works well for people to be involved in projects and offer constructive feedback. ❌ Amazing If x rituals to archive ⭐️ Good Growth Guides - too complicated to keep updated and review back to. 1 pager that could be used in 121s and Career Conversations would be more helpful ⭐️ Project on a page - no I one is using them. Alternative solution may be needed. Stop for now. Would love to know about any rituals your team has that work well!

You're not born a natural problem-solver. It's a skill that needs developing with time: Especially if you want to build a successful digital business.  Most people don't realise it,  But a founder's job is mostly just problem solving on repeat...    Day in and day out.  Over the last few years, I’ve used different problem-solving models Depending on what needed my attention:  💸 Keeping revenue consistent and predictable. 🔧 Setting a strategy that’s clear and actionable. ⭐️ Building a culture people actually want to be part of.  ⚙️ Running smooth operations, even when I’m not in the room. As you can imagine, each one requires a completely different approach. These are the four models that I return to most often 👇 🔍 First Principles Thinking ↳ Strip everything back and start from zero. 1. What do I know for sure about this problem? 2. What’s just a habit or assumption — not a fact? 3. If I had to build a solution from zero, what would it look like? 4. What if I forgot how this is “usually done”? 5. What’s the simplest possible version of solving this? 🔄 Second-Order Thinking ↳ Zoom out and see the bigger picture. 1. If this works... what else does it trigger? 2. What does this look like in 6 months? 2 years? 3. Am I solving a short-term pain or creating a long-term problem? 4. What unintended consequences could show up later? 5. What would someone smarter than me worry about here? 🧠 Root Cause Analysis ↳ Fix an entire system, not just a symptom. 1. What exactly went wrong — and when? 2. What’s the first thing that caused this to break down? 3. If I asked “why?” five times… where would I end up? 4. Where have we solved this badly before? 5. What keeps making this problem reappear? ⚡️ The OODA Loop ↳ When you just need to take the leap. 1. What’s actually happening right now — no bias, just facts? 2. What do I need to unlearn before I can move forward? 3. Based on what I know, what’s the smartest next decision? 4. What small test can I run immediately? 5. What would I change if I had to act in the next 10 minutes? It's easy to panic when an issue arises,  But it will do nothing to actually solve the problem. To problem solve like the top 1%,  You need to stop reacting emotionally... And start responding strategically. If you want to stay sharp under pressure,  My weekly newsletter will help you solve real business problems. Join Step by Step and get actionable insights every Sunday.👇 https://lnkd.in/eXSNaDiu I have other important lessons and 30+ free learning resources for you. What major problem did you solve recently, and how? Share your story in the comments. ⬇️ ♻️ Repost to help your network become better problem-solvers.  And follow Chris Donnelly for more. 

I used to feel I never had enough time! 24x7x365 seemed less. But the biggest productivity killer wasn’t time, it was my lack of – FOCUS. Distractions were everywhere:  my phone, my environment, and even my own thoughts. Here’s my biggest productivity hack that helped me take back control – cutting distractions at their source. // Phone notifications: I keep it far away from my workspace. Out of sight, out of reach, out of mind. // Entertainment apps on laptop: I use screen timers.  Follow the Pomodoro technique (25 mins deep work, 5 mins rest.) You can modify it as per your focus (eg., 40 mins deep work, 10 mins rest.) // Family interruptions: I set clear boundaries by creating an exclusive, work-friendly space, and specific "do-not-disturb" hours. // Procrastination: Sooner or later, I have to do the work. So why delay the inevitable? This simple reminder keeps me accountable. // Mental clutter: I start each day by writing my top 3 priorities and stick to them, one at a time. // Random thoughts while working: I keep a notepad nearby to jot down and revisit them after my focused work block. Productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about cutting out what holds you back. What’s your biggest distraction currently? #drishtiispeaks #productivity #hacks #distraction #growth #selfdevelopment

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟎 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 — 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈’𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 (𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲) As a Research Analyst, I’ve spent 10+ hours a day juggling deadlines, reports, and endless to-do lists. I tried all the classic productivity tips — time blocking, Pomodoro, task batching… Some worked. Most? Not so much. Here are 3 unconventional productivity hacks that actually helped me work better — not just longer: 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝟮-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁” 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 Every time I jumped from Task A to B, my brain lagged. Now, I take 2 minutes to breathe, stretch, and reset before switching tasks. Result? Less mental clutter, more focus. 🔹 “𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 I set self-imposed deadlines 24 hours before the real one. It triggers urgency without stress, and I deliver faster — often with better quality. 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗡𝗼𝘁-𝗧𝗼-𝗗𝗼” 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 Instead of just listing tasks, I list distractions to avoid (e.g., email refresh, instagram scroll, low-priority replies). Staying productive isn’t just about doing more — it’s about avoiding time drains. Productivity isn’t about hustle — it’s about strategy. These simple shifts helped me get more done without burning out. Got an unconventional productivity tip that works for you? Drop it below — I’m all ears 👇 #ProductivityHacks #WorkSmart #CareerGrowth #TimeManagement

AI probably won’t take your job. But someone with these skills will. Everyone’s talking about AI taking over our jobs - or our businesses. The fact is AI is creating opportunities for us to work faster and focus on what truly matters. While AI can automate tasks, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that human skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence will be the most in-demand by 2030. The problem? Many professionals spend years mastering the wrong skills. If you're strong in these six areas, you can create opportunities for yourself in any market! Here's how to develop them: 1️⃣ Critical Thinking and Decision Making: ↳ Dedicate 15 minutes daily to reflective journalling to make better decisions. ↳ Write about a recent decision and evaluate the outcome - what worked, and what didn’t? ↳ Consider different perspectives: how would others solve the same problem? 2️⃣ Skills Gap Analysis and Continuous Learning: ↳ Regularly assess your skills to identify and fill critical gaps. ↳ Review job market trends or industry reports to spot in-demand skills. ↳ Write down your strengths and areas where you feel less confident. ↳ Focus on one skill at a time, setting clear goals and a timeline to improve it. 3️⃣ Emotional Intelligence: ↳ Build self-awareness through daily reflection to strengthen emotional intelligence. ↳ At the end of each day, note one instance where emotions impacted your interactions. ↳ Ask yourself: "What could I have done differently to create a positive outcome?" 4️⃣ Creative Problem-Solving: ↳ Take courses outside your primary field to boost creative problem-solving. ↳ Choose a topic that excites you but is unrelated to your current role. ↳ Dedicate time weekly to explore this new area and see how it connects to your work. ↳ Apply your learnings to a real-world challenge to test innovative ideas. 5️⃣ Technical Adaptability: ↳ Set aside time daily to learn emerging technologies and improve adaptability. ↳ Start with 20 minutes each day exploring tech trends or taking tutorials. ↳ Use hands-on projects to apply what you've learned and reinforce your skills. 6️⃣ Communication and Collaboration: ↳ Practise active listening to build stronger communication and collaboration skills. ↳ Focus fully on the speaker during conversations - avoid distractions like your phone. ↳ Ask open-ended questions to encourage deeper discussions and connections. Your future-ready career isn't built in big leaps. It's built in tiny steps that compound. Start now. Start small. But start. The best time to future-proof your career was yesterday. The second best time is today. ⬇️ Tell me in the comments: Which skill do you see people struggle with the most? 🔄 Repost this to build stronger teams and smarter leaders. ➕ Follow me, Jen Blandos, for actionable daily insights on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace well-being.

To keep a virtual team connected, the fix isn’t “more meetings.” It’s shared purpose. Clear alignment. And strategic shots of connection. Thank you to The Globe and Mail and Gobi Kim for featuring me alongside Shannae Ingleton Smith and Justin Raymond in this piece on building culture in distributed and remote teams. 🤔 One of the biggest challenges I see? Distributed and remote teams “transacting” with each other instead of truly collaborating. 🧭 The solution starts with defining how we work together. → That’s why I recommend every team create a Team Working Agreement. Yes, it takes time to develop - but the ROI is real. → In our programs, we’ve seen double-digit increases in clarity, connection, and trust. That kind of alignment pays out dividends. 🗺️ A foundational step in this process? Map your team. → Who’s where? What time zones? Who’s hybrid - and from which office on what days? → This simple exercise builds empathy, reduces friction, and improves coordination. → Want to try it? Get the free mapping tool here: https://lnkd.in/eRTZnVUf 💡 Remote doesn't mean never together. Think of intentional gatherings as a “shot of connection.” → This is one of my favorite analogies from Annie Dean at Atlassian. → Atlassian research shows that just one well-designed in-person gathering can boost connection by 27% - with effects lasting 4-5 months. It’s like an inoculation for team connection. 💥 Case Study: a remote agency Shannae leads a fully remote company, Kensington Grey Agency Inc. She reinvests what could've been spent on an office lease into travel - sending groups of employees to meet clients in-person. This strengthens both external relationships and internal connection. Justin's team at Flexday supports Kensington Grey in building their intentional connection by matching them with a well-resourced office space for the agency members to gather for 2 days each month. 📖 Full article: https://lnkd.in/ervVgwmU 👇 What’s one thing your team does - virtually or in-person - to boost connection?

Why are remote jobs so attractive for high performers❓ Because they align with their intrinsic motivation 🙋 🙋 Intrinsic motivation arises from enjoyment, interest and personal satisfaction of doing a task. 💵 As opposed to extrinsic motivation, driven by winning a reward or avoiding punishment. Among the first job requirements of high performers are to find: 💚 Purpose. And remote jobs that match with their values and passions are sought after. Followed by: 💚 Autonomy. Remote jobs allow higher degree of independence. This stimulates ownership, responsibility and taking pride of the results and achievements. 💚 Opportunity to become Masters in their craft. High performers are also constant learners. They strive for excellence and the only way to learn is by doing. 💚 Flexibility is of utmost importance in a distributed work. Top talent value the freedom to showcase abilities and deliver results in an optimal way. By nurturing intrinsic motivation—autonomy, mastery, purpose and flexibility—remote jobs create an environment that attracts and retains high performers seeking fulfillment and success. Have you considered why people join your team? Are they intrinsically or extrinsically motivated? I'm curious to hear your thoughts. #Motivation #Monday #ThoughLeadership 

Balancing Learning, Work, and Life: 5 Productivity Hacks for Tech Learners It was 11 p.m., and I found myself staring at a coding challenge after a full day of work. I was exhausted, but the desire to upskill pushed me to keep going. Sounds familiar? This is a challenge many tech professionals face — finding the right balance between learning, work, and life. With the pace at which technology evolves, staying relevant requires constant upskilling. But how do you juggle the demands of a full-time job, personal responsibilities, and the desire to continuously learn? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, even burnt out, when trying to fit it all into an already packed schedule. But over time, I’ve realized that balance isn’t about having equal focus on everything—it's about being intentional with your time. Here are five productivity hacks that helped me navigate this balancing act: 1️⃣ Time-blocking: Break your day into dedicated slots for work, learning, and personal time. It’s easier to focus when each activity has its own window. 2️⃣ The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle): Identify the 20% of tasks that give you 80% of the results. For learning, focus on core concepts that drive your growth instead of trying to master everything at once. 3️⃣ Batch Learning: Instead of learning in scattered bits, dedicate focused periods (like weekends or evenings) to dive deep into new skills or concepts. 4️⃣ Leverage Micro-Learning: Use small pockets of time to absorb new information. Podcasts, short videos, and quick coding challenges during commutes or breaks can make a big difference. 5️⃣ Rest Intentionally: Burnout is real, and the only way to prevent it is by prioritizing rest. Productivity isn't about always being busy, but about being effective when you work. The path to balance isn’t about perfection, but about finding the strategies that work best for you and your goals. What strategies do you find most helpful for managing your learning alongside work and life? Kindly share them with us in the comments section

The Harsh Truth: You’re Not Getting Clients Because They Don’t Trust You In 2025, trust is the real currency of business. With AI-generated content flooding the internet and thousands of “experts” popping up overnight, clients are more skeptical than ever. Before someone hires you, they ask themselves: 🔹 Does this person actually know what they’re talking about, or are they just repeating what’s trending? 🔹 Have they helped someone like me before, or is this all theory with no results? 🔹 Do they have proof that their strategies work, or is it all talk and no action? 📉 What’s happening today? Consumers are overloaded with information but starving for authenticity. AI-driven content is everywhere, but people crave human connection and real results. 🚀 How to Build Trust & Attract High-Quality Clients in 2025: ✅ Teach before you sell. Share insights that help people solve problems before they even consider buying from you. The more they learn from you, the more they trust you. ✅ Showcase case studies & testimonials. Numbers don’t lie—clients want to see actual results, not just bold claims. ✅ Engage in real-time. AI can automate content, but it can’t replace human interaction. Respond to comments, go live, and answer real questions to build credibility. ✅ Be visible across platforms. LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube aren’t just social networks; they’re trust-building machines. The more people see you, the more they trust you. ✅ Be real about your journey. In an era of polished, AI-crafted perfection, authenticity wins. Share your failures, lessons, and behind-the-scenes moments. Selling in 2025 isn’t about pushing products—it’s about building trust so strong that clients come to you. Are you actively building trust, or just hoping clients will appear? Let’s discuss! 👇 #MarketingTrends2025 #TrustIsCurrency #SalesWithoutSelling #BuildYourBrand

Some thoughts on work culture and connection in hybrid/remote teams. Highly effective leaders in the remote/hybrid era can: - Create inclusive online spaces where all voices are heard - Facilitate meaningful connections beyond work tasks - Foster digital empathy and read emotional cues virtually Unfortunately, building a strong remote work culture is often overlooked in traditional leadership training. If you are looking to strengthen your team's connection, here are four practices that I find have worked: 1. Encourage video-on meetings to enhance non-verbal communication (facial expressions, gestures) 2. Reserve some time at the start of every team meeting for personal catch-ups to build real trust and camaraderie 3. Implement digital tools that foster collaboration and casual interaction such as Miro for creative collaboration or fun Slack channels 4. Create rituals that bring your hybrid team together regularly for instance monthly/quarterly get togethers with workshops and team activities I encourage you to start prioritising and nurturing your remote work culture. This is continuous learning and something that can always be deepened, especially as our work environments evolve. What other strategies have you found effective in building connection within hybrid/remote teams?