Distance and writing.
WHAT CHANGES
Most communication becomes written Context is not overheard Silence is ambiguous
WHAT TO DO ABOUT AMBIGUOUS SILENCE
Communicate more than feels necessary.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Stating what you are working on Stating when you are blocked Confirming receipt
WHY CONFIRMING RECEIPT MATTERS
The sender otherwise does not know.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH AS A TEAM
Which channel is for what Expected response times Core hours of overlap
WHAT TO WRITE DOWN THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SPOKEN
Decisions Context behind them What was tried
WHY
Colleagues cannot ask casually.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE ASKING SOMEONE IN ANOTHER ZONE
Check whether the answer is written somewhere.
WHAT TO DO WHEN ASKING
Provide full context, so they can answer without a follow-up.
WHY
Each round trip may cost a day.
WHAT TO BATCH
Questions to one person.
WHAT TO AVOID
Long meetings to convey information Decisions in private messages Assuming people saw something
WHAT TO DO ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Make time for conversation that is not task-related.
WHY
Trust is built through it, and written exchange alone does not.
WHAT TO NOTICE
Colleagues who have gone quiet.
