This document discusses how Envato has adapted to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides an overview of Envato's flexible work policies, including allowing remote and distributed work. It also discusses the tools Envato uses to support remote collaboration, such as Trello, Mural, and Slack. Finally, it offers tips for working remotely, such as establishing routines, using video conferencing, taking breaks, and prioritizing self-care.

1. And then the world
went remote first...
Jay Hyett (he/him)
Senior Delivery Coach
LAST Anywhere
March 2020
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2. > 10,000,000 registered users Community have earned > $900,000,000 USD
Place to get your creative projects done When the community succeeds, we succeed

3. How are you doing?
● Week 3 of full time remote.
● Building momentum.
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4. What are we going to explore?
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● How we are setup for flexible
working options.
● Tools to support people and
teams.
● Our current climate
● Tips for working remotely (x12)
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5. How we’re setup for flexible work options at Envato

6. Types of remote working
Outsource - sending
work to an external
third party.
Distributed -
members of the same
team that are not
co-located.
Working from
home.
Working from
anywhere - location
independent.

7. Types of remote working at Envato
Hybrid - a mixed approach and the Envato way.
● Outsource our Help Desk.
● Distributed people and teams across
Australia and the world.
● Work from HQ.
● Work from home.
● Work from anywhere*.
(* = up to 3 months per year)

8. Team structure at Envato
Product Delivery Team
Delivery Lead Product Lead Engineer(s)
or BA & UX
Envato teams work to the same two week sprint cadence
across the board.
All teams start and end their sprints at the same time.
Teams generally have:
● Sprint Planning
● Daily Stand-up
● Backlog Grooming
● Retrospective
Teams generally don’t have:
● A physical team wall
● A co-located team space
People can sit anywhere in HQ, or WFH, or WFA.

9. Tools to support remote collaboration
Trello = team boards, including W.I.P and backlogs.
Mural = remote friendly whiteboard, used for inception,
workshops, design sprints, planning, etc..
GroupMap = remote friendly retrospective and workshop tool.
Product Plan = company goals and team roadmaps.

10. Tools to support remote collaboration
Slack = real time and asynchronous communication.
G-Suite = live working documents and video chat (hangouts).
Video conference = large workshop or all company sessions.
Jamf = device management

11. Tools to support remote collaboration
15five = sharing and measuring
your holistic contribution.
● Company and personal development
goals.
● Quarterly performance reviews.
● Recognition.

12. You must have this easy, just send folks home.

13. Disclaimer
This works for us
Tips for working remotely
Working from
home… it’s not
PJ’s and Netflix

14. Tips for working remotely
Start by planning your day
○ Set a schedule just like you would in the office.
○ Do you have meetings?
○ When is your focus time?
Make it feel different to domestic life
○ Prepare like you’re going to the office e.g. have
a shower, get dressed.
○ Work on establishing a routine.
○ Make use of what was your commute time.

15. Tips for working remotely
Come together face to face
○ Build and maintain relationships.
○ Is it time to start a virtual standup?

16. Tips for working remotely
Be as visual as possible
○ In particular if you’re connecting with
team mates e.g. turn on your camera.
○ Mute your microphone if you’re
somewhere noisy.
Pro tips:
● Google Meet: cmd-d to mute or unmute (on a Mac)
● Hold down the space bar on Zoom unmutes you,
kind of like a walky talky.

17. Tips for working remotely
Work out loud
○ Communicate your movements
○ Share your progress
○ Slack presences

18. Tips for working remotely
Avoid back to back meetings
○ You’ll find yourself sitting in the same
place for hours.
○ No moving from meeting to meeting =
no mental refresh.
○ Not all meetings need to be done
online.
○ Try scheduling meetings for 5 past and
close at 5 to the hour.
○ Ask yourself does this meeting even
need to be a meeting?
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19. If facilitating, slow down.
○ Give people space to answer and ask questions.
Tips for working with people remotely

20. Setup a Virtual Water Cooler or
place to hangout.
Tips for working with people remotely

21. Get an insight into their world.
○ Show us where you live.
○ Take us outside for a tour.
○ Photos of workspaces.
○ Meet their family or pets.
○ Icebreakers
Tips for working with people remotely

22. Tips for working remotely
Take breaks - it’s ok
○ Have lunch.
○ Exercise.
○ Get outside for some fresh air

23. Share what tech you’re using
● Headphones
● Microphones
● Software
● Monitors
● Chairs
Tips for working with people and teams remotely

24. Tips for working remotely
Know when to stop - don’t
burn out.
○ Working long hours isn’t sustainable.
○ Create a finish line for your day.
○ Setup the ability to walk away.
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25. Tips for working with people remotely
Team Working Agreements

26. Disclaimer
This works for us
A couple of thoughts to close
● We’re all on a level playing
field.
● Keep building momentum.
● Physical isolation, look after
each other.
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27. Remote
Lean Coffee
Once a month
Check out Melbourne Lean
Coffee on Meetup.com

28. Thanks!
Twitter: @jhyett
jay.hyett@envato.com
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