Remote Work Companion

Whether you’re a remote work warrior or one of the remote-by-circumstance millions who set up a home office over the last year, you’re a trailblazer. Because let’s face it, remote work isn’t remotely defined. But fear not, you’re not the only one who’s had it up to here with Zoom. Join Andrew Silberman and Dan Nestle as they take a practical and funny approach to many of the challenges we face in this evolving world of working at home—to help you get a GRIP on remote work.

In this first episode, Andrew & Dan introduce the Remote Work Companion Podcast, explain what it's all about, and dig deeper into what "Remote" work is and the challenges and opportunities offered by working remotely. As they share "who they are and why they are here," and remind us of an infamous political gaffe, you'll hear how they handle some of the hassles and stresses that you're probably facing. (Special "ghost" appearance from Andrew's uncle, Edmund Jacobson, founder of Progressive Relaxation.) Enjoy some bad analogies, learn the 3 S's: Setting, Schedule, and Structure. Listen to help yourself stay "in tune" for remote work.

In our second Remote Companion episode, "Distract," Dan & Andrew explore how to both deal with and reduce distractions. They get a little into psychometrics, share many laughs as well as strategies that can help even the most "distractable" of us focus more effectively on our remote work, wherever we find ourselves on the "continuum of distraction." And by the end, they come up with a tip that just might help all your work relationships.

In our third Remote Companion episode, "Clarify," will help you and your message stand out when you're working remotely. You'll gain a few techniques and learn some Venician history along the way.  Both our co-hosts are "professional communicators," and their honest self-appraisals and confessions will help you improve your performance on the next Zoom call you attend, or the next e-mail or text message you send.

In Episode 4, "Zoom In," Dan and Andrew discuss how to "make yourself look better" on web conferences. Not only how to look better but where to look. Are you presenting your best self on camera? As Dan says early on, "Nobody expects you to have best video camera....or the perfect background, but when it comes to the basics, how you look on camera effects the way you communicate." They cover the basics and a bit more...practical tips to give you a visual (and audio) edge on your next call.

In Episode 5, "Essential Reading and a Forgotten Skill." This one is all about "who is essential" and how we can improve perhaps the most important Remote Work skill: Listening. Are you essential? YES. Can you improve "the forgotten skill"? Also, YES. After those affirmations, Remote Work Companion's co-hosts Andrew and Dan dive into what makes your work essential and then share how listening skills could be a key to better remote work and teamwork. They go deep on what you can do to help all your teleconferences go smoother. The video link Andrew refers to is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYu_bGbZiiQ

"Screened Out" Andrew & Dan combat fatigue and the ill effects of spending so much time online.  They explore different solutions to the challenges we're all facing. They look at physical, mental, and emotional tools to help us engage more and be more energized while on screen. They also banter about the difference between "sap and Zap" and if we were to boil 20 minutes down to 3 words, this episode would be "Engage, Concise, Energize!" Here's a link to the Opus video Andrew talks about as a cheesy instant energizer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pATX-lV0VFk

In Episode 7, "Action!" Remote Work Companion's co-hosts Dan and Andrew look at the different roles we play when presenting ourselves on screen. Are we actors? Whether we are in the movies or just watching them, we are all playing roles, especially on a web platform, and as Andrew says, "We all want to make a positive impact." They get into the controversial topic of what constitutes a professional look these days, and remind us all to rehearse any technology, especially group presentations. And there's even talk of a hamster wheel.  Somehow the cheating Houston Astros also make an appearance.

Episode 8's all about whether and when to turn your camera on or off during a video meeting. In this very practical episode ("duct tape effects!"), the boys share their frustrations and cross-cultural experiences related to camera use during remote work. This is one to share with your teams and gives some ideas for creating guidelines for them. They reflect on what it means to have a "seat at the table."

Episode 9's about "how to avoid Zoomicide," the one chapter of Andrew's book that gave Zoom's head of international pause. While Dan and Andrew are not psychological counselors and are not talking violence, they do discuss tips and techniques here to again combat stress and other emotional issues that arise while working remotely. As they share, meetings are tough enough in the real world, and now that meetings are mostly remote, you will want tricks to avoid boredom and other challenges, whether a participant or leader of a meeting. And again you may hear something that someone somewhere is doing that you too can adopt. Oh, and Chance the Gardener makes an appearance. This time, you get a nice list of guidelines for your team.

The season's final episode 10, "Balance," starts out with a teeter-totter image, and then they dig deep into the whole concept of work-life balance in the world of remote work. This is another one filled with laughter and tips, and you even meet "Work Life Alex." They get into chronotypes, tennis, and everything somehow connects to improving your work relationships, even remotely.