by Scio Team | Aug 15, 2022 | Nearshore, Workspace
Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez
They may have been happy to put the office behind them when the pandemic first struck, but software developers with social anxiety are now bracing for the return to the office. And so far, the results have been mixed; not even corporations like Apple have managed to get it right, in most cases deciding to implement policies that date back to pre-pandemic times, which are difficult to sell in the modern Tech industry we currently find ourselves in.
The main issue is that, for many, the thought of having to collaborate in person with colleagues is daunting; while the pandemic forced a lot of them to confront their fears and learn how to manage them, they’re still not sure if they’re ready to return to an office environment thanks to a widespread issue that’s becoming more and more of a challenge for the modern developer: social anxiety, a barrier to success in any field, but it’s particularly challenging in software development, where collaboration is essential.
However, by understanding the challenges workers with this condition face, employers can create more supportive environments that help everyone thrive, because right now, for many software developers, the thought of returning to the office after months of working from home is less than thrilling, and the fear of being around other people, having to collaborate on projects face-to-face, and the unique pressure of meeting deadlines at the office can all contribute to a sense of anxiety.
So, while it’s true that working in software development can be a solo endeavor at times, the best developers are aware that collaboration is key to creating a successful product, which is especially true when returning to the office (even just for a couple of days of the week) after working remotely, a challenge that most workplaces will need to consider moving forward.
As this BBC article puts it: “Anxiety has rocketed among young people during the pandemic, and although there’s little data on exactly how many people are dealing with it, it’s estimated that 12.1% of US adults experience social anxiety at some point in their lives”, so, with many questions still up in the air (if the pandemic will have a definitive end, if the job market will change, if the Great Resignation will have lasting effects on the industry), it’s important to think what this means in terms of the workplace.
The meaning of interaction
As Luis Aburto, CEO and Co-Founder of Scio has talked before about the importance of feeling part of a larger whole: “Although right now full remote work is the preferred model for many people in the tech industry, I believe that things are going to shift soon, as more of us start feeling the weight of the isolation that it builds up. After all, work can be more than just the means to make a living, it can also allow you to be part of something together, a community. The real challenge of transitioning to an effective hybrid model will be to promote and maintain this feeling of community and belonging.”
For software development teams that are Nearshore or just distributed, it can be difficult to create a welcoming environment for everyone, which is especially true for people with social anxiety, However, there are a few simple things that can help to make everyone feel more welcome and included, like providing opportunities for small-group or one-on-one interactions, even through remote means.
Alternatively, it’s helpful to create an open and inclusive atmosphere by discouraging social hierarchy and encouraging collaboration, being understanding, and accommodating of people who may need extra time to warm up or may prefer to communicate electronically; one of the challenges of software development is that it is often a very collaborative process, which can be difficult for people who may have trouble opening up and communicating with others. Asking them direct questions about their ideas or thoughts can help to draw them out, and it is also important to give them time to process what is being said. It is possible to work successfully with someone socially anxious, although it requires both parties to be willing to adjust their communication style.
“The idea of having to interact with colleagues on a daily basis, attend meetings, and take breaks in common areas can be overwhelming, but there are some silver linings to returning to the office for those with social anxiety. For one, it can provide an opportunity to reset social boundaries and gradually ease back into more intense interactions”, says Human Capital Manager at Scio, Helen Matamoros.
“Additionally, returning to the office can also give people with social anxiety a chance to practice their “social skills” in a safe and controlled environment. Of course, everyone’s experience with social anxiety is different, and not everyone will feel comfortable returning to the office right away. But for some, it may be a necessary step in getting back to a sense of normalcy.”
After all, working with others helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and it also allows for a different perspective to be brought to the table. However, simply standing side by side is often not enough. To have a meaningful interaction, it is important to create a culture where interactions are meaningful and welcoming, fostering connections that help people feel at ease and eager to participate, so here are a few things you can do to make sure the office is as inclusive as possible:
- Make sure they can look up someone’s name. This may seem like a small thing, but for someone with social anxiety, it can make a big difference. Back in the day, you could have name tags to make it easier to start up a conversation, but in a hybrid office with distributed collaborators, having a directory or something similar to look up teammates, leads, the management or any other person they might need is invaluable.
- Encourage collaboration. Many people with social anxiety feel more comfortable working in small groups or pairs, and by encouraging flexible collaboration, you can help create an environment where everyone feels included. This may mean having regular check-ins or setting up specific times for team members to share their thoughts and ideas or providing opportunities for people to work on projects alone or in small groups. For people with social anxiety, it can take some time to warm up, but once they do, they can be great collaborators.
- Define objectives clearly. Make sure everyone has a clear understanding of the project and their role in it. This will help to reduce any feelings of anxiousness about not being able to contribute, especially for new collaborators not accustomed yet to the rhythm of the office, as well as ensuring they have clear guidance when working remotely.
“When you have a connection with someone, it becomes easier to work together towards a common goal”, in the words of Luis Aburto, is the principle at work in Scio.
The advantage of Nearshore
Focusing on Nearshore software development is also a way to create a more supportive environment. By collaborating with other developers from around the world, software developers can work on projects at their own pace and in their own space, without the pressure of having to be in an office. In addition, nearshore software development companies often have a better understanding of the needs of workers with social anxiety and can provide support and coaching to help them succeed. As a result, workers with social anxiety can find nearshore software development to be a more supportive and confidence-building environment.
Software development is an increasingly important field and one that is constantly evolving. The traditional 9-to-5 office model is increasingly becoming a thing of the past, with attitudes and challenges in the way of hybrid or remote workplace solutions, and those companies who are willing to offer different options to their employees, as well as accommodating conditions like social anxiety right now is becoming more and more common, could allow developers to collaborate with others more easily. As the workplace changes, it’s important for both software developers and organizations to adapt, and flexible work options and open-mindedness will allow them to do just that.
- Social anxiety is no joke, and our quickly changing landscape, in terms of economic stability, technological leaps, and pandemic flows and ebbs, will only make this condition more and more common.
- There are ways for software development organizations to accommodate and anticipate this condition among workers; being flexible and open-minded are some of the most effective.
- Options like distributed workplaces, or Nearshore development collaboration, are great for flexibility and communication, which can help deal with the increasing social anxiety that will be the norm for the time being.
Scio is a Nearshore software development company based in Mexico where we believe that everyone deserves everyone should have the opportunity to work in an environment where they feel like a part of something. A place to excel and unlock their full potential which is the best approach to create a better world. We have been collaborating with US-based clients since 2003, solving challenging programming puzzles, and in the process showcasing the skills of Latin American Engineers. Want to be part of Scio? Get in contact today!
by Scio Team | Jul 7, 2022 | Nearshore, Project Management, Remote Work
Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez
At this point, the adoption of remote work has become normalized, to the point of (almost) becoming standard in many sectors of the software industry; all said, the option to work away from an office is now a pretty popular perk among developers and engineers all over the world.
However, even if we understand the benefits of this model of collaboration, it doesn’t mean we have completely mastered it yet, and plenty of discussion about the best integration of people beyond the office space is still happening. Mainly, there’s been a lot of talk about the benefits of both remote and distributed work, and while there are certainly some similarities between the two, there are also some important differences that we should know about.
Namely, that one of them is way more inclusive and equitable than the other.
But what do we mean by this? Remote work, as the name suggests, simply involves working from a remote location — usually your home. Distributed work, on the other hand, involves working with a team that is spread out across multiple locations, cultures, and languages. Nearshore development, for example, is a type of distributed work where team members are based in different countries within the same time zone, which allows for esaier collaboration and inclusion, as everyone can participate in meetings and discussions in real-time.
“Distributed work, on the other hand, means that people on the team are decentralized. It means the company has made a conscious decision not to have a “center” that’s more important than any other location. In other words, remote work builds back from the real estate (we have an office, let’s fill it up) whereas distributed work builds forward from the humans doing the work.”
And why is this important? Because nearshore development models are much more inclusive and allow for a greater diversity of voices and perspectives. In an increasingly globalized world, it’s more important than ever that we find ways to work together that are respectful of different cultures and traditions. Nearshore development helps to make this possible.
The importance of diverse perspectives
There are a lot of reasons why diversity and inclusion are important in software development. For one, it helps to create a more collaborative environment, because people who come from different backgrounds, and have different experiences, can share unique perspectives and skill sets to make a more innovative and effective software development; after all, if you’re developing software with the help of a diverse group of people, the end result will be more inclusive for a vast range of people using, making it stronger and potentially more successful.
Additionally, diversity and inclusion help create a more positive work environment, as an employee that feels respected and valued is more likely to be engaged and productive, as well as attract and retain top talent. When employers manage to shift their way of conceptualizing the traditional office and look for talent beyond this setup, they can discover that the best talent doesn’t necessarily have to be in a specific place; by creating an inclusive environment, they signal that they are committed to attracting diverse candidates, which can include the best and brightest from any backgrounds.
Ultimately, diversity and inclusion lead to better software development, and a more positive work environment.
“The collaboration that Nearshore development creates between businesses and software developers, taking place in countries that are geographically close to one another, has many benefits, but one of the most important is that it helps to promote inclusion by breaking down barriers”, says Luis Aburto, CEO, and Co-Founder of Scio, an organization based around collaboration all over LATAM.
So naturally, a more distributed workplace that can reach this variety of voices is the best approach to ensure that inclusion and diversity flourish within an organization. The problem, however, comes when the structure of an organization becomes purely remote instead of distributed, and the advantages of diversity and inclusion start to become diluted. In the words of Jensen Harris, CTO at the software platform Textio:
“When there’s a center — a headquarters or physical office with just some team members who are remote — there’s a power differential. […] Some employees can work with them in person, while others are “just remote.” The result? Employees working at headquarters see their leadership more. They’ll get noticed more, run into a VP in the kitchen and when it’s time for a promotion, the VP feels like she knows the guy she’s seen in person better than the remote staff. It’s just human nature.”
In Scio’s experience, though, a strong enough culture can ease many of these issues in regards to visibility and working relationships, promoting in-house activities that encourage an understanding that goes beyond the workplace: video-call meetups and activities, for example, can bring a team closer and build the rapport necessary to keep everyone on the same page, and thus ensure a seamless collaboration during any development cycle.
The challenge of diversity in distributed teams
However, this doesn’t mean that a distributed workplace isn’t without challenges. When it comes to Nearshore development, where both the teams and the clients share a time zone but are still spread geographically, one of the biggest barriers to inclusion is language. When businesses and developers are working in different countries, there is a potential for misunderstanding and miscommunication that can lead to frustration on both sides and ultimately make it difficult to get work done. Nearshore development helps to reduce the risk of this happening by allowing businesses and developers to work in the same language, which in the case of Scio, is easy to achieve thanks to the proximity of the US (from where most of our clients hail) to the rest of LATAM, especially Mexico.
Still, beyond language, a challenge to inclusion is culture. When businesses and developers are from very different cultures, there can be a lack of understanding and respect for each other’s traditions, which can again lead to frustration and difficulty getting work done. Nearshore collaboration helps to reduce the risk of this happening by bringing businesses and developers from similar cultures together; for example, with LATAM being very close to the US, there are shared traditions and knowledge of each other’s cultures that benefit any collaboration between these territories.
There are many other benefits of nearshore collaboration, but these two are some of the most important when it comes to promoting inclusion. By breaking down barriers like language and culture, nearshore collaboration helps to create an environment where everyone can feel respected and valued. And that’s something we can all get behind.
Evolving our understanding of remote work
The way people work is changing, and companies are starting to catch on. There is a growing movement of companies that are ditching the traditional 9-5 in favor of a more distributed model, where employees can work from anywhere in the world.
“Before the COVID-19 crisis, a survey of office workers by 451 Research showed that two-thirds of people worked from home at least some of the time but only 13% did so all of the time”, cites the Dropbox blog Work In Progress. “For these companies, the social contract for employment is not about showing up physically, but showing up mentally and engaging fully from wherever you are. The employees commit to being part of the team and doing the work, and the employer commits to making both possible.”
There are a lot of benefits to this model. For one, it allows companies to tap into a global talent pool. It also gives employees a lot more freedom and flexibility when it comes to their work-life balance, but there are also a few challenges that come with this model. One of the biggest is making sure that everyone feels included, no matter where they are located. After all, as the quoted Work In Progress blog concludes: “companies that merely tolerate remote workers rarely expend the effort to make them part of the daily rhythms and incidental interactions at HQ”, and will rarely keep their remote top talent.
So understanding both the advantages and limits of a distributed workplace, where “remote” means more than just having someone with a computer connected from far away, is the next step for the new landscape of collaboration that is changing our approach to software development. As a Nearshore company, we understand the value that diversity and inclusion can have in every successful project we collaborate on.
- Working away from the office is an increasingly popular model of collaboration that the software industry is starting to adopt openly.
- However, there’s a challenge in understanding the difference between mere remote work, and a distributed organization, which can be crucial for the success of an organization.
- While “remote work” works well with collaborators that are still local (to a point) or with hybrid models, a distributed workforce with people permanently far away requires a different approach.
- A strong culture that builds connections between clients and teammates beyond work is better equipped to deal with challenges and obstacles.
- And more importantly, a distributed workplace tends to be more inclusive and diverse, which enriches the software development environment and leads to better solutions for everyone.
Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies to help you reach new heights. We have been developing since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – we’ll be happy to help you achieve your business goals.
by Scio Team | Jul 5, 2022 | Nearshore, Successful Outsourcing
Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez
When it comes to the Technology sector in most countries, one fact has been making itself clear since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: talent shortage is on the rise. In fact, according to a survey by the Harvey Nash Group, among 3000 tech leaders, 67% acknowledged a lack of availability of skilled software developers, and this gap will only increase as our demand for technological solutions (like platforms, applications, and programs) keeps growing as in the past couple years.
“The global events of the past two years have seen the appetite for emerging and innovative technologies, such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, increase dramatically across all industries”, indicates an article by the Australian Financial Review. “But the current pipeline of talent simply cannot keep up with the pace at which jobs are being vacated or created.”
The projections about this talent gap are not very optimistic, at least when it comes to the local US developer pool. According to the blog Youteam.io, the US alone will face a shortage of 85.2 million competent tech workers by 2030, which means the loss of revenue opportunities totaling $8.452 trillion in less than a decade.
So to solve this problem, many companies have been turning to a myriad of solutions to try and mitigate this gap, like adopting “IA-generated software” or “no-code” platforms to ease development without depending too much on skilled talent, but the long-term success and viability of this strategy is still unknown, especially among smaller-sized organizations.
A different challenge for every organization
It’s also important to note that this talent gap is not the same across the software industry, and different organizations of different sizes face very different challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining skilled developers. The main one is that corporations like Google or Amazon drain the local talent pools, adding about 45,000 new tech jobs for the roughly 2000 new developers entering the workforce in 2022 alone, according to a report by the tech blog 8allocate.
What this means is that small and medium-sized companies, even with the advantages they offer in terms of culture and perks, have a more difficult time attracting talent to remain competitive, which only exacerbates the issue. However, the silver lining is that, as the software development industry becomes increasingly globalized, many companies are outsourcing their software development needs to countries with lower labor costs to remain competitive, one of many reasons the practice of outsourcing software development has become so popular in the US.
For one thing, it can be a great way to save money; development studios in countries like India and China often charge significantly less for their services than US-based companies, in addition to helping businesses tap into a global pool of talent. In many cases, it’s simply more efficient and cost-effective to collaborate with developers in other countries than it is to try to find and hire talented software developers locally, especially during a labor shortage like the one we are currently seeing.
“Outsourcing software development always had its place as a go-to solution for speeding up development, but with everyone working remotely, the playing field has been leveled. Incorporating outside development teams is now just as viable of an option.” However, the potential downsides to outsourcing software development to these countries, such as language barriers and cultural differences, are well known. So while this may bring a solution in the short term, it can also lead to problems in the long run. For example, when software developers are based in different time zones, it can be difficult to coordinate efforts and collaborate effectively, in many cases thanks to the cultural differences that are present between both territories, a challenge that Nearshore development easily solves.
Nearshore development: Talent in the same time zone
As the software development industry continues to face this talent shortage and the skill gaps they produce, tech companies will need to find ways to remain competitive. One possibility is a focus on Nearshore software development, which provides several advantages over traditional offshore outsourcing, including improved collaboration and a closer cultural fit, thanks to being located in time zones that are more favorable for communication. In the case of the US, for example, there exists the advantage of working with the talent available in Mexico and the rest of LATAM. According to Stack Overflow:
“Mexico is home to 223 thousand software developers, and with the constant rise in the count of IT specialists, the country provides access to a huge array of developers. It also holds expertise in Agile development, Blockchain, the Internet of Things, and Analytics. Among the many reasons to opt for Mexico to outsource your software is the perfectly aligned time-zone between the United States and Mexico due to the border it shares and the high number of English-speaking population, which makes the location even more ideal.”
As a result, Nearshoring can provide a more efficient and effective software development solution for US-based organizations, providing the same cost savings as outsourcing, reducing the risk of communication problems and other potential issues, without sacrificing anything in the way of skills or expertise, as Mexico and LATAM have a high technical base of talented developers, comparable (and even surpassing) those of Ukraine, China and India, with the added advantage of keeping close in the same time zone, and with similar culture and values.
So outsourcing software development to a Nearshore company like Scio, which has been a partner to over 200 US-based companies and projects since 2003, can be a great way to get the skills and expertise you need without having to hire full-time employees, offering a way to any organization keep competitive, even with a local shortage of technical talent.
So while the talent shortage might seem like a challenge going forward, especially in the increasingly tech-focused world of today, this gap can be sidestepped more easily than you imagine; within the same hours as your main offices, and with seamless communication across every team you partner with, Nearshore development has all the talent you need to keep marching onwards today.
- Since the pandemic began, our need for technological and software solutions skyrocketed.
- This, in turn, leads to a huge demand for skilled software and technology developers, creating a shortage of them that will only grow.
- Not only this could seriously impact the industry in the future, to the tune of billions of dollars lost, but has also created certain inequality among software development organizations.
- Big corporations drain the local talent pools, and solutions like IA and no-code platforms are imperfect for the current demands of the market.
- However, the wealth of technological and development skills in Mexico and the rest of LATAM present a solution for this in the shape of Nearshore collaboration, which has similar cultural values, and within the same time zones.
- Nearshore development offers the best talent available in these geographical locations, without some of the obstacles present in offshore development, becoming a win-win for both sides of the industry.
Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies to help you reach new heights. We have been developing since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – we’ll be happy to help you achieve your business goals.
by Scio Team | Jun 21, 2022 | Nearshore, Project Management
Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez
There’s a (not very old) saying about how you can’t manage time, only energy, and nowhere is this truer than in the world of software development. As a developer, there are always going to be more things on your to-do list than you can hope to accomplish in a month or week, so the key is to learn how to stop looking at them in terms of work hours, or you run the risk of being overwhelmed.
Think about it this way: when you’re trying to manage your time, you’re limited by the number of hours in a day, but when you’re managing your energy, you can get a lot more done because you’re not restricted by the clock. You can work for as long as you have the energy to do so and take breaks when you need to, meaning that you can be much more productive overall.
There’s also another advantage to managing your energy instead of your time, especially if you’re part of a Nearshore software development company like Scio: Collaboration. When you’re working with a team of developers in a variety of time zones, it’s important to be able to manage your energy levels so that you can be the most productive at specific hours of the day, or risk getting burned out. The key is to manage your energy, take breaks when necessary, and work along your natural body clock to be as productive as you want.
Also, managing your energy instead of your time also allows you to be more flexible in your work schedule. If you have family or other commitments, you can work when it’s convenient for you and take breaks when you need to. This flexibility is essential for software developers who want to maintain a healthy work-life balance. So yeah, this approach might solve a lot of things for the busy developer of today, but what is the secret to this? How can you start effectively managing your energy?
The delicate balance of energy
You should know that everyone has different “input/output” settings, so to speak, that dictate how easily we spend and regain energy during the average workday. And this is because programming affinities vary from person to person, and different tasks require a different effort from us.
“As I got up one morning and looked at 15+ meetings starting at 8 am, and ending just before 11 pm, all I could feel was exhaustion even before my first meeting had started […] but in my own start-up, I racked up 8 -100hr weeks without a sense of mental exhaustion. I wrote code well until after midnight every single day, took a cab home, and started refreshed the next morning”, expresses Gerald Haslhofer, an experienced engineer and team lead at Microsoft in his blog “Manage your energy, not time”. What he is getting at is that time commitment by itself wasn’t the deciding factor between feeling exhausted and refreshed when working; instead, the nature of both responsibilities demanded a very different energy output from him.
The trick is realizing that not all tasks drain energy from you at the same rate, and in fact, some of them help you regain it instead, and those generally are the activities you enjoy doing. Just think about your average sprint: which parts of it are your favorites? And why?
In other words, the best software developers know how to manage their work so that they can maintain a consistent level of energy throughout the day, week, or month by spacing their responsibilities evenly. They know when to push themselves and when to take a break, in many cases following the so-called “20% Rule”:
“If you spend less than 20% of your day on activities that energize you, you will quickly be unhappy with your job no matter what.”
After all, it’s no secret that the traditional 9-to-5 job is becoming increasingly obsolete, and with the rise and popularity of remote work, more and more people are seeking out alternative arrangements that offer greater flexibility and autonomy. However, even with these changes, the majority of workers are still spending the majority of their time on activities that don’t energize them. And considering how this 20% accounts for about 80% of your results at the end of a project, finding the flexibility necessary to manage your “input/output” of energy is more important than ever. So here are a few ways you can start to reclaim that 20% and beyond:
- Protect your creative time: We know that software developments involve many things beyond solving the puzzles of writing code, but having a dedicated schedule to sit down and go wild with your favorite part of the job is how you get the best results. So if you are in a good environment where you are free to set aside some time during the day without interruptions, you’ll quickly see how energized and focused you can be.
- Start with the big things: It probably sounds like a good idea to begin your day by tackling the “smaller” stuff of your to-do list first, like attending meetings, correcting mistakes, compiling feedback, etc., and leave the big, juicy stuff for later in the day interrupted, but in practice, it can have a negative effect. After all, if you only output energy early, how much will you have left by the end of it? So starting with the big stuff you like to do the most can be a better approach; by the time you need to do the not-as-fun parts of your day, you will still be fresh and ready.
- Keep your mind in mind: How do you feel about any given task in your daily schedule? What excites you, and what makes you feel tired? Paying attention to what you feel about a task is important for the final result; your mood, needs, and obstacles affect everything in your workflow, and in many cases, even doing what you love can feel like a chore if you are doing it with the wrong mood. So taking breaks, discussing the issue with your teammates or manager, and trying to occupy yourself with something else entirely can help you accomplish stuff even if your energy is not up to it that day. It’s okay, we are humans, and never forgetting that fact can make you more effective in the long run.
As a software developer, you have a career that allows you to work from anywhere in the world. And as freeing as that is, the rules apply the same whether you are in an office or at home, so learning how to manage your energy during the day is crucial to reaching success.
That’s why it’s so important to find ways to infuse your work with meaning and purpose. Whether it’s by taking on additional responsibilities outside of your core job duties or simply seeking out opportunities to contribute to something you’re passionate about, there are plenty of ways to make your job more satisfying. That’s why a good collaboration culture is so important today: these opportunities are more common in an environment where everyone is on the same page concerning individual talents and needs.
One way to do this is to take advantage of the collaboration offered by Nearshore companies like Scio we were talking about at the start of this article. Working with other developers in time zones close to you can help you get more done in a day, as you can overlap your work hours and get more things done, although it’s not just about the number of hours you can work. Nearshore collaboration also helps to create a culture of continuous learning, where you and your team are constantly sharing new ideas and approaches, creating the kind of cross-pollination of ideas that leads to more productive and innovative software development.
That’s why a Nearshore development company like Scio is so attractive in terms of flexibility and collaboration; Nearshore is all about culture and working with people who understand your point of view and approach. This makes it easier to communicate and collaborate effectively because when working with people who understand where you come from, can help you focus your energy on the task at hand, rather than on trying to explain yourself over and over (the source of many superfluous meetings that you might be familiar with).
And when you collaborate with nearshore teams and clients from different cultures you are constantly learning new things, it’s easier to spend a large portion of your day on tasks that energize instead of exhaust. That’s why it’s so important to find ways to infuse your work with meaning and purpose, whether it’s by taking on additional responsibilities outside of your core job duties or simply seeking out opportunities to contribute to something you’re passionate about, there are plenty of ways to make your job more satisfying.
The Key Takeaways:
- Productivity is better conceptualized as the amount of energy you have to spend on a task, instead of the time you take to complete it.
- Not all tasks require the same amount of energy, and the natural affinities of the person define how much effort you need to complete something.
- Good management takes this into account, and plans around it, assigning optimal scheduling for meetings, sprints, reviews, etc.
- To this end, google collaboration is critical to the correct use of energy during software development; a good team dynamic means you spent less energy trying to keep everyone on the same page and more on the product itself.
Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies to help you reach new heights. We have been developing since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – we’ll be happy to help you achieve your business goals.
by Scio Team | Mar 23, 2022 | Nearshore, Remote Work
Productivity is among the top-of-mind issues many companies getting into remote work are considering, and there’s a lot of information out there about its benefits and its drawbacks. So we looked closely at some of the myths about remote productivity and found very interesting stuff to discuss. Enjoy!
By Scio Team
It’s very clear now that our way of looking at work has changed, and the future of this relationship is just starting to be clear now. One could argue that remote work was an inevitability, the natural next step in many industries (technology and software especially) that don’t really require people to be on-site to collaborate and work together well.
However, as we’ve been discussing through interviews with Scio’s Founder and CEO Luis Aburto, and Senior Project Manager Jesús Magaña, there are a lot of moving parts involved in a successful remote work model, and one of the big questions when this trend picked up steam in 2020 was “would productivity remain the same?”
The answer was yes, and it even increased in many cases, but why? What are the mechanisms behind good productivity when working remotely or from home, what myths and facts get involved with the new normal way to work, and how can we harness its advantages for a modern organization?
Myth #1: Productivity is the only measure of success.
Truth:
One of the most interesting insights we got from our interview with Luis was that “the health of a team cannot be measured only in productivity terms”, referring to their emotional well-being and offering the appropriate support, watching out for signs of burnout, and he’s far from the only one to realize this.
Last year, Microsoft published a list of seven trends of remote work, and among them was the insight that “high productivity is masking an exhausted workforce”, which is important to understand why remote work is taking such a foothold, even beyond the pandemic. Workers today are finding out many advantages when working from their homes, and companies are seeing benefits allowing flexibility, because it generally results in a better life balance, and thus mental health.
Now, of course, productivity is important for any industry, and a software company needs to keep a close eye on the team’s progress to make sure a project is hitting its deadlines, but sometimes those requirements have an unrelated cost that can be alleviated with more freedom in the way we chose to work.
A hybrid model, where a collaborator only goes to the office a couple of days a week, or when they need the space for whatever reason (like meeting with clients or having Internet problems at home) works best, as it offers a way to keep up with the organization, while also leaving elbow room to attend your personal life.
Myth #2: Productivity happens continuously for everyone.
Fact:
Around 75% of workers polled by Microsoft mentioned that flexibility in their work hours is one of the top things they are looking for in a new job, and that tracks with the upcoming “Gen Z” entering the workforce during a pandemic.
The explanation behind that is simple: for many people, focus and productivity happen in bursts, and they do not always synchronize with the traditional 9:00 to 5:00, five days a week work schedule. Working remotely gives options, and letting the collaborator choose what suits them best allows for a better application of skills and effort, which is in the best interest of any organization.
Companies like Twitter, which implemented a permanent remote model, or Microsoft, which is experimenting with plenty of options (like working at the office until 3:00 pm to avoid rush hour in traffic), are seeing the benefits of this philosophy, and letting a collaborator adapt according to their bursts and stretches of productivity lends well to an industry that needs creativity and focus as often as software development.
This goes back to achieving a better balance in daily life. Having the ability to adjust to the day depending on the type and volume of work to be done. Do you need to collaborate with others or just get in and get some detailed coding work done? Having more than one check-in/check-out time (like we enjoy at Scio), can make a difference to an individual’s productivity.
Myth #3: Productivity depends entirely on the person.
Fact:
A big negative side-effect of moving away from in-person work at the office was the infrastructure needed to keep productivity moving along. From security measures to VPNs, and other reliable ways to connect to a company’s servers and have all the information you need at your disposal, it certainly resulted in slowdowns while many offices adjusted.
Companies like Scio, which are no strangers to these set-ups and have a lot of experience knowing what works and what doesn’t, know very well the value of selecting the right tools to keep everyone moving forward. In the case of a Nearshore company, for example, it also helps to build teams capable of adapting to the processes of the clients, so you have plenty of experience collaborating in all manners of ecosystems without issue.
What all this means is that there’s an incentive for the Management and IT departments of the world to be selective and careful about the tools they adopt for remote collaborators, which need to be comprehensive and reliable, but without interfering with the work itself.
Easily understandable CRMs that you can teach to someone over a Zoom call, ready access to databases and important files, effective training programs, clear and concise guidelines about Internet activity and cybersecurity, or applications that don’t impact productivity (or at least can be taken into account during a project) are a delicate balance to hit as more and more people choose to work off-site, but well thought off guarantees a successful adoption of remote work.
The Takeaways:
- Today, new employees and collaborators will prioritize flexibility, and that trend is only going up, so it’s best to start adapting ways to offer it.
- Flexibility results in better productivity, as it gives people the chance to work at their best productivity times.
- Choosing the right collaboration tools that doesn’t hinder productivity is going to increase in priority to maintain productivity and minimizing the impact of any measure implemented in an organization.
- As of now, a hybrid model is proving to work best, giving plenty of options to keep a cohesive team that also respects personal time.
