Insights for Engineering Excellence
Have fun together with social chat channels
Thematic public Slack channels are for fun and bring people together around common interests, hobbies, and lifestyles.Thematic public Slack channels are for fun and bring people together around common interests, hobbies, and lifestyles.
Schedule shorter meetings (25 & 50 min) in your calendar
This feature helps reduce meeting fatigue and stress by providing attendees with some much-needed downtime between meetings.This feature helps reduce meeting fatigue and stress by providing attendees with some much-needed downtime between meetings.
Communicate primarily in tools where the work is done (e.g. Jira, docs, code repository)
If you want to communicate, choose primary communication channels the tools where the work is done. This way you’ll improve productivity and reduce communication timeIf you want to communicate, choose primary communication channels the tools where the work is done. This way you’ll improve productivity and reduce communication time
Enable Appointment booking form, so people can book a meeting automatically
Booking page is especially handy for meetings organised with people from outside the company.Booking page is especially handy for meetings organised with people from outside the company.
Convert private chat channels into public
Use public chat channels instead of private, if the subjest is not confidential, or private.Use public chat channels instead of private, if the subjest is not confidential, or private.
Set up / use cross-team work-related thematic chat channels
If your team has already chosen teams to regularly sync via meetings, probably there are still teams you’d like to sync with, but there is no need to run meetings.If your team has already chosen teams to regularly sync via meetings, probably there are still teams you’d like to sync with, but there is no need to run meetings.
Contract on core sync vs flexible hours as a team & put them into calendar
Enable working hours in your Google calendars -> put there your core work hoursEnable working hours in your Google calendars -> put there your core work hours
Create an ergonomic workspace
Creating an ergonomic work station can help support deep work and productivity.Creating an ergonomic work station can help support deep work and productivity.
When you're not working, disconnect from chats & email by turning notifications off on your phone
When you're not working, disconnect by turning off Slack, Gmail, and other notifications. The easiest way to do it is by customising your phone.When you're not working, disconnect by turning off Slack, Gmail, and other notifications. The easiest way to do it is by customising your phone.
Shape up meetings with Mural or Miro
Get your meetings in shape with Mural or Miro templates! Why use them? Because even your meetings deserve a makeover! 🚀Get your meetings in shape with Mural or Miro templates! Why use them? Because even your meetings deserve a makeover! 🚀
Use "Focus on" mode on macOS or Windows for deep work
Focus mode increases the quality of your current focus slots. Don't worry, it's only a small part of your day, you'll be off.Focus mode increases the quality of your current focus slots. Don't worry, it's only a small part of your day, you'll be off.
Start a deep work session with a to-do list
Start a deep work session with a to-do list to minimize distractions & prioritize your tasks.Start a deep work session with a to-do list to minimize distractions & prioritize your tasks.
Change group Direct Messages into chat channels
You can change it to a private channel if you are in a group Direct Message (DMs) with multiple people.You can change it to a private channel if you are in a group Direct Message (DMs) with multiple people.
Co-design meaningful team bonding rituals other than check-ins
Consider weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly recurring meetings.Consider weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly recurring meetings.
Use check-ins for bonding, blockers & planning (daily, weekly)
At first, it may feel strange to switch from reporting (comfort zone) to more open questions (unknown zone), but give it a try for a week, it’s worth it!At first, it may feel strange to switch from reporting (comfort zone) to more open questions (unknown zone), but give it a try for a week, it’s worth it!
Agree as a team on regular 1on1s & put them as recurring meetings
Individual attention from the leader is important for productivity, engagement, and well-being.Individual attention from the leader is important for productivity, engagement, and well-being.
In flow mode? Pause Slack notifications with the DND shortcut
Managing distractions is key to maintaining focus and productivity when you're in flow mode.Managing distractions is key to maintaining focus and productivity when you're in flow mode.
Organize your Slack sidebar by teams and features you work with
Whether you’re in sales, development, or production, creating custom sections in Slack can make your day-to-day more efficient.Whether you’re in sales, development, or production, creating custom sections in Slack can make your day-to-day more efficient.
Set sync schedules with chosen teams (e.g. weekly async, bi-weekly sync)
In remote-first work, interactions with other teams do not happen by incident.In remote-first work, interactions with other teams do not happen by incident.
Use async updates for brief and in-depth daily and weekly check-ins
Switch to async status updates to save time in meetings and improve them. When check-ins are a reporting moment, everyone just tries to look busy. Async updates also give more time for fixing problems, bonding, and planning.Switch to async status updates to save time in meetings and improve them. When check-ins are a reporting moment, everyone just tries to look busy. Async updates also give more time for fixing problems, bonding, and planning.
Agree on 1on1 agenda beneficial for both parties
Here are some topics you might consider including in a 1-on-1 agenda.Here are some topics you might consider including in a 1-on-1 agenda.
Create profiles in collaboration tools & make them public
Even a short description on your profile (position, team, what you do) plus a photo will make it much easier to know you.Even a short description on your profile (position, team, what you do) plus a photo will make it much easier to know you.
Opt for meeting recordings in calendar
Maximize your team's efficiency by incorporating meeting recordings into your routine.Maximize your team's efficiency by incorporating meeting recordings into your routine.
Schedule “Do not disturb” for deep work slots
Schedule “Do not disturb” status on Slack to automatically pause Slack notifications for your deep work slots.Schedule “Do not disturb” status on Slack to automatically pause Slack notifications for your deep work slots.
Offer times you’re free for meeting directly in email
Offering times you’re free for a meeting while sending emails eliminates the back-and-forth emails for finding the perfect time for a meeting.Offering times you’re free for a meeting while sending emails eliminates the back-and-forth emails for finding the perfect time for a meeting.
Streamlining Meetings in Tech Teams: A Strategy for Smart Teamwork
By encouraging teams to adopt the efficient habits of their smarter counterparts, specifically reducing large and daily meetings, we're not just reclaiming hours but are fostering a more focused, productive work environment.By encouraging teams to adopt the efficient habits of their smarter counterparts, specifically reducing large and daily meetings, we're not just reclaiming hours but are fostering a more focused, productive work environment.
Meetings don’t have to be a productivity pitfall
By challenging myths with data-driven insights and adopting targeted strategies, we can reclaim our schedules and foster meaningful collaboration.By challenging myths with data-driven insights and adopting targeted strategies, we can reclaim our schedules and foster meaningful collaboration.
Collaborating between the DX and Employee Experience (EX)
Collaborating between the DX and Employee Experience (EX) teams seems a great opportunity to exchange data and best practices to boost both performance and engagement.Collaborating between the DX and Employee Experience (EX) teams seems a great opportunity to exchange data and best practices to boost both performance and engagement.
