Embrace remote work: Four tips from my Logto journey

Logto has been adopting a hybrid work model since its inception, allowing some employees to choose between working online or in physical offices, while others work remotely on a long-term basis.

It has been two years since Logto was established, and during this time, we have created our proud identity resolution solution product:

As a member of the team who has been working remotely for Logto, I would like to share the four most important tips I have learned about remote work during my time here, hoping they can be helpful to remote workers everywhere.

Tip 1: Have a clear understanding of what you're doing#

The foremost aspect is to have a comprehensive understanding of your tasks. Think of it as having a map, where you know your current location and the destination you aim to reach. Once you have this clarity, the next step is to embark on your journey.

So, how can you ensure a clear understanding of your remote work responsibilities?

• Familiarize yourself with the product's current state by consulting colleagues or studying relevant product design documents. This knowledge will help you identify your starting point.
• Take time to review the assigned tasks repeatedly, seeking clarification on both the overall objectives and specific details. This practice is crucial as it prevents you from veering off track or having to start over due to misunderstandings.
• Stay updated on your colleagues' progress by regularly checking the status of their ongoing tasks. By staying engaged with their work and deliverables, you can enhance collaboration and drive the project forward.
• Remain attentive to information that arises during the workflow, as any changes or updates could potentially alter the direction you're heading.

Tip 2: Be a proactive communicator#

Remote work differs from traditional offline collaboration, where information exchange happens spontaneously. Therefore, it's crucial to actively engage in communication and become a proactive signal transmitter, consistently sending and receiving messages.

While immersed in your work, you will inevitably encounter various situations that require timely communication and resolution:

• Work dependency on colleagues' outcomes (and vice versa)

As highlighted in the first tip, it's essential to not only focus on your own tasks but also stay attentive to your colleagues' work. Recognizing the interdependency of everyone's contributions, promptly communicate with relevant colleagues to clarify whether you should wait for their tasks to be completed before proceeding or if you can work on independent parts. Alternatively, reach a consensus on the final deliverable, allowing everyone to align their work accordingly and synchronize at the end.

• Actions that may impact colleagues' work

In such instances, it's crucial to promptly share your progress with colleagues, enabling them to assess the potential impact in advance. This facilitates better coordination and alignment of work expectations. Just as real-time information is essential during the team's work process, maintain an ongoing transmission of relevant updates so that everyone can progress effectively together.

• Complex work situations requiring collaborative resolution

When encountering complex scenarios that cannot be resolved individually, summarize and document the challenges you face. Share these details with relevant colleagues for review, and promptly schedule an online meeting to collectively discuss and make informed decisions. This approach enhances workflow efficiency and fosters a deeper understanding of the project for all team members.

Remember to follow up if a colleague is busy and unable to respond promptly. Likewise, when you have completed your tasks and are waiting for outcomes from others, regularly check their progress and kindly request updates upon completion. However, exercise consideration and reflection before initiating communication to ensure that your questions are clear and that you value your colleagues' time.

Tip 3: Value the way of communication#

While our team utilizes Slack for voice communication at any time and from anywhere, asynchronous text messaging is the primary way of communication. Unlike face-to-face interactions, text communication lacks the ability to perceive facial expressions and tone, making it easy for people to feel emotionally hurt when they're under pressure or not in a good mood.

To avoid the emotional impact caused by cold text, we can adopt the following approaches:

• Use friendly emojis and tone to add warmth to your text messages

In regular communication, try to use friendly emojis and words to create a warm tone. Send a heart emoji to appreciate your colleagues' excellent work, or give them a thumbs-up. By adding warmth to your written text, you can inspire and uplift each other.

• Focus on the matter at hand and suppress emotions.

Although we strive to use friendly emojis and tone words to infuse emotions into our text, as the frequency of communication increases, we may still occasionally get hurt by the coldness of the words. In such situations, it is important to pull yourself out of the low emotional state and shift your attention back to the work itself. Remember the words of Steve Jobs: "Working with great people, you don't have to worry about their egos." Consider yourself as someone exceptional, and remember that no one has the time to specifically target you. Focus on doing your work brilliantly, as that triumphs over everything else.

Tip 4: Regularly meet with colleagues and local friends#

Long-time remote work often means you're spending a significant amount of time working from home or other isolated environments, resulting in limited interactions with others. Over time, you may find yourself becoming a lonely work machine.

Therefore, remember to schedule regular meetings with colleagues. If feasible, consider working together for a while. This allows everyone to better understand each other, facilitates improved comprehension and communication, reduces misunderstandings and communication barriers, and enhances overall team effectiveness.

Additionally, make an effort to meet and communicate with local friends. This provides you with opportunities to detach yourself from the intricacies of work and gain insights and fresh inspiration about the current products you are working on.

Summary#

The four tips mentioned above are valuable insights I have gained from working remotely in the Logto team. I hope they can assist everyone in mastering remote work.

Additionally, I encourage you to keep an eye on our great work in this work mode: