12 fully remote work observations as an engineering manager, three months in, in a company with distributed offices to start with.

It feels like “execution-only” work is the same, even more focused. Work requiring group creativity & coordination is less efficient. A thread.

1. Execution initially was was just as good, if not faster. Engineers pushed (slightly) more code and were more focused.
2. Team communication dropped significantly from the office. Spontaneous conversations are less of a thing.

3. Planning with more than 3 people becomes far more painful. What would have taken us half a day - a meeting, then a spontaneous whiteborading - is easily multiple Zoom meetings, spread over days

4. The whiteboard is a major miss. Still not found an alternative.

5. Mentoring less experienced engineers is painful. Onboarding new grads is very hard for both the new starter and their mentors.

6. No more room pressure to find a room to meet :) Which means more last-minute meeting bookings :(

7. The team is more “distant” and the dynamics have changed. Some people are more quiet on Zoom calls than in a group setting. Some more in their element than during the “normal”.

8. Everyone is trying hard to make it work and we do have good laughs.

9. Working with other remote teams on distributed sites in different time zones is actually easier. Setting up a 9pm call is easier to manage, as the workday is mode flexible. I can start or end earlier and step away easy, then come back online later.

10. I walk a LOT less.

11. Most people are using this time to reflect “would I ever want to work fully remotely?”. Everyone is far more open to work remotely for shorter/longer stretches.

12. personally can’t see myself not going back to the office when this ends - with better remote/WFH support