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remocpi's review against another edition
3.0
"Remoto" es un libro que habla sobre las ventajas del teletrabajo, escrito por los fundadores de una empresa que lo instauró desde su misma creación. ¿El problema? Que es un libro de 2013 y quiere convencerte de que el teletrabajo merece la pena cuando solo el 1% de la población activa teletrabajaba. Es por tanto un libro muy generalista, que trata los posibles problemas con una o dos explicaciones someras, pero que nunca entre en detalles. Ahora que más de un tercio de la población española se ha visto obligada a teletrabajar, los argumentos como "podrás estar más tiempo con tu familia" se quedan muy atrás por genéricos y vacíos.
Hay muchas buenas ideas. La primera del libro, para empezar:
También hay muchas ideas que merece la pena explorar:
Otras ideas van sobre cómo tratar con los empleados a distancia, incluyendo el Darwinismo incementado de que a un empleado simpático pero subpar es más difícil echarle si le ves todos los días cumplir su horario y llevarse bien con los demás compañeros. En Remoto eso no pasa...
En mi opinión, su mayor fallo es que no trata el problema de la cultura de empresa. Todas las empresas tienen una manera de hacer las cosas, y esa manera se ve, no se cuenta. En este libro los autores obvian ese problema describindo lo que es la cultura de empresa pero no diciendo cómo imbuirla en las nuevas incorporaciones en remoto. Y cuando lo vuelven a mencionar dicen que sí, que compartir semanas en la sede central es muy bueno para instaurar una cultura de empresa. Hmmm.
En resumen, es un libro con buenas ideas pero que necesita urgentemente de una reformulación para un mundo que se ha subido al bus del teletrabajo con una pistola apuntándole a la cabeza. Y tiene muchos fallos de profundidad en temas concretos que si los abordara (al fin y al cabo los autores llevan años con una empresa que tiene al 80% de los trabajadores en remoto) harían ganar mucho al libro.
Su final es profético (recordemos, 2013):
Mención aparte para la mala traducción, por literal en muchas ocasiones, de expresiones y frases hechas del inglés.
Hay muchas buenas ideas. La primera del libro, para empezar:
Si le preguntamos a la gente adónde van cuando de verdad tienen que hacer un trabajo, muy pocos responderán: «A la oficina». Si lo dicen, añadirán un matiz, como: « A primera hora de la mañana, antes de que llegue nadie»; o: « Me quedo por la noche cuando todos se han ido»; o: «Voy el fin de semana». Lo que tratan de decirnos es que no pueden trabajar en el trabajo. Durante el día, la oficina se ha convertido en el último sitio donde queremos estar cuando queremos trabajar de verdad.
También hay muchas ideas que merece la pena explorar:
Una empresa construida eficientemente en torno al trabajo a distancia ni siquiera es preciso que tenga un horario fijo . Esto resulta especialmente importante cuando se trata de un trabajo creativo . Si nosotros solos no conseguimos concentrarnos , no hay nada que lo consiga por nosotros . Cuando el tiempo presencial no es un requisito , la mejor estrategia suele ser tomarse un poco de tiempo libre y volver al trabajo cuando nuestro cerebro funcione a plena potencia .
[...]
Libérese de la mentalidad del trabajo de 9 a 5 . Es posible que cogerle el tranquillo a trabajar de modo asincrónico con su equipo le exija un poco de tiempo y práctica , pero pronto verá que es el trabajo — no el reloj — lo que importa .
[...]
Esto no significa que debamos coger y mudarnos a Colorado mañana , sólo porque nos guste esquiar . Algunas personas lo hacen , pero también hay muchos términos medios . ¿ Podríamos irnos allí durante tres semanas ? Igual que trabajar en la oficina , no tiene por qué ser todo o nada .
Otras ideas van sobre cómo tratar con los empleados a distancia, incluyendo el Darwinismo incementado de que a un empleado simpático pero subpar es más difícil echarle si le ves todos los días cumplir su horario y llevarse bien con los demás compañeros. En Remoto eso no pasa...
Si toda nuestra fuerza laboral está concentrada en un mismo sitio y les pagamos salarios de mercado , estaremos bajo el ataque constante de los cazadores furtivos . Todos nos sentimos naturalmente más inclinados a cambiar de trabajo cuando las condiciones están igualadas y nos ofrecen un salario más alto . Ahora comparémoslo con contratar un empleado de atención al cliente de primera fila de Fayetteville ( Tennessee ) , o un programador estrella de Caldwell ( Idaho ) , o un genio del diseño de Edmond ( Oklahoma ) , y pagarle un salario propio del mercado de una gran ciudad . A ese empleado le resultará muy difícil encontrar un trato mejor en una empresa local ( dado que tienden a pagar sueldos locales ) .
[...]
Así pues , no vea el trabajo a distancia como un medio para escatimar en salarios ; ahorrará en muchas otras cosas . La diseñadora estrella , que vive en algún lugar remoto , es tan valiosa ( quizá más ) para el equipo que los que trabajan en las oficinas centrales de la gran ciudad . Asegúrese de que ella lo percibe así .
[...]
Es más fácil pasar por alto estos dos fallos cuando vemos a alguien en la oficina cada día . Especialmente si es , en general , alguien agradable . El resumen mental suele ser : en el despacho de 9 a 5 + agradable = debe de ser un buen trabajador . Por supuesto , a alguien que no sea lo bastante listo para la tarea ni sea cumplidor acabarán descubriéndolo . Pero dado que son pocos los que delatan a un compañero , a menos que el problema sea de gran magnitud , es habitual cargar con muchas personas que cumplen el horario y son muy agradables , pero no encajan en los criterios establecidos para ser grandes trabajadores . El trabajo a distancia acelera el proceso de echar del autobús a las personas equivocadas y hacer subir a las adecuadas .
En mi opinión, su mayor fallo es que no trata el problema de la cultura de empresa. Todas las empresas tienen una manera de hacer las cosas, y esa manera se ve, no se cuenta. En este libro los autores obvian ese problema describindo lo que es la cultura de empresa pero no diciendo cómo imbuirla en las nuevas incorporaciones en remoto. Y cuando lo vuelven a mencionar dicen que sí, que compartir semanas en la sede central es muy bueno para instaurar una cultura de empresa. Hmmm.
En resumen, es un libro con buenas ideas pero que necesita urgentemente de una reformulación para un mundo que se ha subido al bus del teletrabajo con una pistola apuntándole a la cabeza. Y tiene muchos fallos de profundidad en temas concretos que si los abordara (al fin y al cabo los autores llevan años con una empresa que tiene al 80% de los trabajadores en remoto) harían ganar mucho al libro.
Su final es profético (recordemos, 2013):
Es tan difícil predecir los puntos de inflexión que a la mayoría le resulta más fácil fingir que nunca se producen. Pero se avecina uno de esos puntos para el trabajo a distancia. Quizá la oficina no deje de existir por completo, pero su importancia ha alcanzado su cénit.
Mención aparte para la mala traducción, por literal en muchas ocasiones, de expresiones y frases hechas del inglés.
thetarantulalounge's review against another edition
4.0
Exactly a year ago I changed jobs. I went from a conservative 9-5 workplace where business casual or suits were required to complete freedom. Anywhere with an internet connection was potentially my office. At first, this was overwhelming. I was talking to an office-less friend about it and how he dealt with always being available. He told me a story about one time having to talk with a client while on a cruise. “Instead of looking at it like I’m always on call, I look at it like I can do whatever I want and just work from my life,” he said. “I mean, I was on a cruise.”
My friend’s offhand comment planted the seed of the idea that remote work could be more than a moorless, isolated working situation. Instead, it was an opportunity to more fully embrace the things I cared about. Fried and Hansson’s Remote helps both remote workers and their bosses embrace these possibilities.
As they note, the biggest challenge is changing one’s mindset from synchronous work to asynchronous work. While they still recommend that many people have about four hours of overlap with people they need to be in contact with, they make a persuasive case that remote work (which doesn’t necessarily mean home office work, by the way) provides opportunities for deeper and more efficient output from employees. It also has the potential to create more satisfied and fulfilled employees. That’s definitely been my experience, as I can now eat meals with my family, walk the dog, run an errand, browse the library shelves, grab coffee with friends, and still get my work done, all with no commute!
The most practical tips in the book for me involved figuring out a schedule that worked for me, making sure to change clothes and have human interaction daily, to take care of my health (ergonomics, mental, exercise, nutrition), and to meet up in person with my work team at least quarterly. As previously mentioned, just getting oneself into the mindset of embracing the freedom of remote work is perhaps the most helpful thing.
I would recommend the book to any managers or people working remote. You’re bound to find at least some tidbits that will help you and your organization.
My friend’s offhand comment planted the seed of the idea that remote work could be more than a moorless, isolated working situation. Instead, it was an opportunity to more fully embrace the things I cared about. Fried and Hansson’s Remote helps both remote workers and their bosses embrace these possibilities.
As they note, the biggest challenge is changing one’s mindset from synchronous work to asynchronous work. While they still recommend that many people have about four hours of overlap with people they need to be in contact with, they make a persuasive case that remote work (which doesn’t necessarily mean home office work, by the way) provides opportunities for deeper and more efficient output from employees. It also has the potential to create more satisfied and fulfilled employees. That’s definitely been my experience, as I can now eat meals with my family, walk the dog, run an errand, browse the library shelves, grab coffee with friends, and still get my work done, all with no commute!
The most practical tips in the book for me involved figuring out a schedule that worked for me, making sure to change clothes and have human interaction daily, to take care of my health (ergonomics, mental, exercise, nutrition), and to meet up in person with my work team at least quarterly. As previously mentioned, just getting oneself into the mindset of embracing the freedom of remote work is perhaps the most helpful thing.
I would recommend the book to any managers or people working remote. You’re bound to find at least some tidbits that will help you and your organization.
annebogel's review against another edition
3.0
The latest from the guys at 37 Signals is okay. It reads like a manifesto, not a well-researched, well-argued explanation of a topic that I believe is more complex than they'd like to admit.
chs's review against another edition
4.0
Great book on remote working. I think it should be required reading for management of every company. Does a great job of refuting many of the common excuses for not allowing remote workers.
etothem's review against another edition
3.0
Although a bit dated, Remote is a decent intro/overview. I'm past the point of gathering talking points for leadership to support the case for a remote workforce and wanted something more in-depth and with case studies or practical application.
balhau's review against another edition
4.0
The main subject of the book is remote working. This is a real inspiring book. It addresses this problem in several very interesting perspectives. Show how to avoid problems that arise with this change of philosophy in the work. It answer the main questions you face when dealing with the dilema of the new way of work. It shows how you can enjoy the best of both worlds. It shows that it is in fact possible to be happy, productive and have a lot more time for you as well as more economic return. I could detail some chapters that I liked most, however that would spoil the reading.
savanna36c34's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn't as in-dept or well-researched as I had hoped, and it skews very heavily toward to programming and web development side of things. I was disappointed because I had expected a less inductive and less industry-specific approach. I also found the writing a bit on the trite side and sometimes condescending. If the book were presented more as a memoir and guide to 37signals, I would have found it less grating (and also not read it). But as someone (an editor) who's been a remote worker for years and who plans to remain one, I found this book neither terribly enlightening nor informative. It only focused on one industry, and it didn't touch on remote work's ethical or anthropological significance—even in broad strokes—which was a missed opportunity. It reads more as a series of blog posts or magazine articles than a cohesive trade book. The last grievance I had with this book was that it comes off a bit too much like an ad for 37signals, whose products I had used for years and found lacking. If you're looking for a strongly researched account of remote work across industries that doesn't assume you've barely used the Internet, this isn't it.
shreyashk2006's review
3.0
A paean to remote working. A quick, short read.
What did I like?:
1. It provided a brief intro to remote work
2. Some insight into the key aspects of how Basecamp makes remote work
What didn't I like?:
1. I expected more tactical advice on how to handle remote working. Instead, it was very high level without going into details
2. It seemed like it was a book which served to justify remote working to an organization, as opposed to saying how you can make it work as an individual
3 stars because I expected more details.
What did I like?:
1. It provided a brief intro to remote work
2. Some insight into the key aspects of how Basecamp makes remote work
What didn't I like?:
1. I expected more tactical advice on how to handle remote working. Instead, it was very high level without going into details
2. It seemed like it was a book which served to justify remote working to an organization, as opposed to saying how you can make it work as an individual
3 stars because I expected more details.
alannaj's review
4.0
Great summary of remote working - benefits and pitfalls to look out for both from the perspective of being a remote worker and managing a remote worker. As someone who operates in an environment that supports remote working, I was reading this as a consolidation/validation exercise, which the book did well, but I can see how this book would be even more beneficial for someone who is right at the start of their remote working journey.
The formatting of the book made reading it feel effortless. The authors have a very conversational style when putting their opinions and thoughts across, and the imagery throughout really helps to break up the content so that you don't feel bombarded by instructions on how to make remote working successful; they also help with the idea that remote working isn't something to be scared of, as they give a light tone to the content.
Would recommend to anyone who is researching the idea of remote working, or as a way of keeping those already working remotely on track for success.
The formatting of the book made reading it feel effortless. The authors have a very conversational style when putting their opinions and thoughts across, and the imagery throughout really helps to break up the content so that you don't feel bombarded by instructions on how to make remote working successful; they also help with the idea that remote working isn't something to be scared of, as they give a light tone to the content.
Would recommend to anyone who is researching the idea of remote working, or as a way of keeping those already working remotely on track for success.