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April 23, 2020 @ 10:00 am (MST)

Meeting Agenda

This week’s conversation touched on mental health during the COVID-19 crisis and what policies, procedures and habits have organization stopped doing and now realize you won’t go back to after this crisis ends?

Guest on the call:

Carin Knoop – Harvard Business School

Ray Foote

Chris Stanton – Harvard Business School

Geordie Pierson- Falfurrias Capital Partners

Jeff Carbeck – 10EQS

Christopher Jerard – Inkwell

Simon Chan – Communitech

Mark Barden – eatbigfish


Chat Room Transcript:

00:24:24 Janice Stevenor Dale: So true Carin, F2F so important to connecting with employees…very difficult to achieve now
00:24:47 Catherine McGowin: Thanks, Carin, for sharing.
00:24:50 Balaji Bondili: @Carin – Those archetypes are fascinating. Is there a place where I can read up on it and self diagnose?
00:24:53 Catherine McGowin: Carin Knoop – https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinknoop/
00:34:08 Greg Keller: Trevor! We’ll talk later…
00:34:16 Andy Barnes: That worked really well
00:34:17 sheila mahoney: That was great, thank you!
00:34:20 Simon Chan: Canadians are feeling unprecedented levels of anxiety, according to Mental Health Index
Pandemic has caused a dramatic 16-per-cent drop in Canadians’ mental health, according to Morneau Shepell’s Mental Health Index: a score of 63
00:34:24 Michelle Briggs: That was really great!
00:34:30 john winsor: Thanks, Dante and Odessa for the conversation!
00:34:31 Arthur Ransier: Great chat Trevor and Greg!
00:34:37 Simon Chan: @Carin – it’s mental health is a challenging in Canada
00:34:49 Paul Estes: That was super cool!!
00:34:56 Andy Barnes: We were in a group of three so I guess we were special!
00:35:31 Catherine McGowin: Really loved truly connecting on a personal level with my group! We had three so we could have used a little more time!
00:35:42 Open Assembly: Please mute your mics when you enter back the call.
00:35:45 Jeff Cinadr: Sorry we got cut off but thanks for sharing Michelle!
00:35:57 Ashley Beaudoin: Thanks – great exercise!
00:36:01 John Healy: Thank you Carin and Ray!
00:36:08 Michelle Briggs: Absolutely Jeff!! Hope to connect again!
00:36:30 Open Assembly: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategy-in-a-structural-break?cid=other-eml-cls-mip-mck&hlkid=72e104c7000145f2b14b5d9abc441b3f&hctky=11873504&hdpid=9d2f95c2-fcae-428c-8b34-70bc454c9700
00:36:38 Catherine McGowin: Thanks Ray Foote: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-foote-b5ba551/
00:37:33 Open Assembly: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=602452
00:39:41 Gavin McClafferty: @Chris – 100% agree about the reduction in travel time and potential for more remote work in the future.
00:39:44 John Healy: interesting….we’re hearing that the volume of spontaneous meetings is increasing…specifically for people who are not tethered to their HQ organization
00:40:17 Mark Barden: love the idea of a Zoom case!
00:40:28 Janice Stevenor Dale: great idea Chris! zoom introspective
00:41:08 Greg Keller: Hopefully they fix their encryption issue (says the security nerd).
00:42:37 Gavin McClafferty: @Chris – it’s interesting that Zoom and others who have pioneered so many remote working tools are so often the most resistant to embracing remote working. Look at Google, Facebook or LinkedIn. Almost all of their workforces are inhouse and onsite.
00:42:42 Open Assembly: Security Nerd ^^ at JumpCloud: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorykeller
00:42:45 Janice Stevenor Dale: companies are already taking action toward long term strategies….size matters in RE
00:46:11 Mark Barden: very interested in the restoring notion. hearing a lot about that. profound impact on economy
00:46:19 John Healy: @Geordie…like the approach of thinking about the “supply chain of our people”
00:46:27 Mark Barden: reshoring
00:46:30 Open Assembly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geordie-pierson-28758183/
00:46:50 Open Assembly: https://www.falfurriascapital.com/
00:47:45 Balaji Bondili: I want to hear stories about who is struggling and what they are struggling with. We need to understand the problem better, I don’t have a real handle on the new struggles with going remote, specifically for white collar and remote feasible work. Any one facing issues?
00:48:14 Carin Knoop (cknoop@hbs.edu): @Balaji, here are manager archetypes and questions:• When you confront these issues, are you focused on yourself, the employee or the firm? What is driving your focus?
• All approaches have some advantages and costs. Are you clear about what the consequences will be for you? Your team?
• How have you behaved in past situations?
• After reflecting on your tendencies, try to predict how you are likely to behave next time you are presented with a similar situation.

00:48:59 Open Assembly: https://www.10eqs.com/
00:49:26 Balaji Bondili: @Jeff C – good to see you!
00:50:17 Open Assembly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcarbeck/?originalSubdomain=uk
00:52:31 Gavin McClafferty: Have we reached a point where office real estate has peaked? Perhaps WeWork have the right idea?? Agile, spaces on demand. The traditional model of acquiring talent and having them onsite is dead.

00:53:17 Jeff Carbeck: Hi @Balaji!
00:53:20 Open Assembly: https://inkwell.media/
00:53:43 Balaji Bondili: @Gavin – Office real estate will shrink for sure, I think the WeWorks of the world will be more impacted than owned real estate.
00:54:58 Open Assembly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-jerard-476a717/
00:55:07 Dean Bosche: The Zoom story around lack of eat-own-dogfood reminded me. Toptal just released our dogfood recipe, which we have been eating for some time. Hopefully this can be a resource for folks out there: https://www.toptal.com/remote-work-playbook
00:56:11 John Healy: @Carin – Anecdotal, but still interesting feedback, we’re hearing from several suddenly remote workers that they feel “safer” working from home…translating into a more outspoken and engaged workforce…any thoughts on that?
00:56:34 Tom Cooke: personal brands will continue to increase in reach without a need for offices or large firms
00:56:45 Open Assembly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-chan-0556883/?originalSubdomain=ca
00:57:12 Open Assembly: https://www.communitech.ca/
00:58:11 Balaji Bondili: @Tom Cooke – yes and outcomes are winners. Positioning, style, networking is now less important than getting job done. I am sure introverts are rejoicing.
01:00:04 Janice Stevenor Dale: Right on, Simon, key to recruitment of top talent
01:00:20 Tom Cooke: @Balaji Bondili – agree. Now I think one challenge is how to value that and how to compensate based on outcome and not a 40 hour workweek tied to a timesheet
01:00:28 Jeff Cinadr: @John Healy – As someone who typically works remote, I can add that I do feel “safer” in my own home versus when I travel into the office. For me, I think there’s a sense of having to “play by the rules” when you are in a structured office setting.
01:00:41 Andy Barnes: Talent also is more interested in fixed deliverables tied to fees
01:00:43 Carin Knoop (cknoop@hbs.edu): @john and @ jeff. yes for some people this works better, esp if you are in hostile workplace, in open office that is stressful, etc. tiles on zoom are the same size so that norms power dynamics too. some HBS faculty are also reporting that “more shy” students are speaking more in zoom. lots of new balance of power dynamics for sure.
01:01:40 Arthur Ransier: @Dean good stuff!
01:02:27 Balaji Bondili: One of the big questions that I am wrestling with how to mentor remotely. Many times apprenticeship happens by observation of just being in the same room and solving problems together.
01:02:29 Arthur Ransier: @everyone – do you think WeWork’s model will thrive, or do you think more traditional real estate investors will build flex-models into their buildings?
01:02:31 Jeff Cinadr: @Carin – Very very interesting to think about the power dynamics of zoom tiles. Interesting point
01:03:20 Open Assembly: https://www.eatbigfish.com/
01:03:27 Arthur Ransier: Even prior to covid-19, I came across COPT’s cirql model – cirql.copt.com
01:04:38 Carin Knoop (cknoop@hbs.edu): @mark those are microsignals, being late, grooming etc
01:04:39 Tom Cooke: @John Healy and @Carin Knoop – I’m hearing that underlying biases and distractions based on how people dress, what people listen to, what individual pieces people bring into a physical space; interesting dilemma to be individualistic without creating distractions in a physical space. Doesn’t seem to be as big a deal when we see the individual in their own environment and more accepting of them in their own space
01:05:40 Janice Stevenor Dale: innovation takes trust
01:06:42 Ashley Beaudoin: Great point – “When this is ‘over’, what work can be done remotely and what can’t?”
01:07:01 Mark Hannant: @Balaji – lots of struggles emerging here in India where organisational cultures still tend towards command and control, seniority valued and input/process valued over output/results. So, many employees and managers struggle when traditional architectures are stripped away. Many don’t have the frames of reference, self awareness and skillsets required to work remotely.
01:08:13 Alex Wente: I’m in the same boat, Balaji!
01:08:15 Mark Barden: agreed @belaji
01:08:17 Marcelo Pena Costa: That’s a great point.
01:08:34 Stephen Lepke: Completely agree @belaji
01:08:35 Janice Stevenor Dale: @Balaji, places must be designed for the function…homes are not at present for some people
01:08:46 Michelle Briggs: Really important point, great perspective.
01:08:55 Arthur Ransier: Very good point. I am fortunate to be in the suburbs and can go outside in my yard to play with my kids, etc. Folks in the city may not have the same options… awesome perspective
01:09:02 David L. Papp: @Balaji, yes, most managers are excellent managing employees in person, however sometimes they feel lost, powerless if the team members are away, and trust issues tend to increase
01:09:05 Open Assembly: @balaji https://www.studio-shed.com/
01:09:34 Open Assembly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-estes/
01:09:59 Open Assembly: https://www.amazon.com/Gig-Mindset-Reclaim-Reinvent-Disruption-ebook/dp/B082QN2DJ6
01:10:19 Andy Barnes: Cool t-shirt @paulestas
01:10:35 sheila mahoney: agreed
01:10:37 Tom Cooke: Great use of LinkedIn platform to build personal brand!
01:13:28 sheila mahoney: thanks for another great call!
01:13:50 Janice Stevenor Dale: @Paul, same with education…forced educational technology parallel to telemedicine….impacts, such as: child abuse reported reductions result
01:14:27 Tom O’Malley: 18 months ago, I made my company remote, I moved to Coronado from Palo Alto, gave up my car (and 100% solar)…So I can tell you the long term impacts are awesome…I have so much more time, I read more, I work out more, I sleep better and my relationships with my wife and kids improved. Honestly after 18 months of veritable quarantine, I love it. That said, to Balaji’s point, your house needs to be set up for everyone to have space…a guest room is neutral territory for anyone that might need a spousal break. No shame in needing some space.
01:14:42 david boghossian: love “remote first” perspective
01:14:56 Marcelo Pena Costa: Thanks John!
01:15:01 Open Assembly: Thanks Carin and Ray!
01:15:05 Mark Hannant: Great call @John. Thanks
01:15:07 david boghossian: 10 years of evolution in 2 months
01:15:10 Stacie Joosten: @Tom – that is amazing!
01:15:12 Jeff Carbeck: Great call and connections!
01:15:13 Arthur Ransier: Thank you John! Thank you Carin and Ray!
01:15:14 Andy Barnes: This was my first time : loved it. Thanks for the invite @johnw
01:15:21 Ed Wong: Thanks John! Great meeting today
01:15:23 Stacie Joosten: Thanks all! Thanks for the connection and conversation!
01:15:23 Ray Foote: thanks @john!
01:15:24 Stephen Lepke: Great discussion! Thanks everyone 🙂

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