[Applause] good afternoon everyone I have someone
good afternoon everyone I have someone
good afternoon everyone I have someone actually joining us here today so give
actually joining us here today so give
actually joining us here today so give me one second hello mark can can you
me one second hello mark can can you
me one second hello mark can can you hear me mark there’s tons of static mark
hear me mark there’s tons of static mark
hear me mark there’s tons of static mark is that you mark king can you change
is that you mark king can you change
is that you mark king can you change your line mark mark sorry sorry everyone
your line mark mark sorry sorry everyone
your line mark mark sorry sorry everyone so up until about six months ago this
so up until about six months ago this
so up until about six months ago this was my normal morning call now my normal
was my normal morning call now my normal
was my normal morning call now my normal morning is I wake up between 7:00 to
morning is I wake up between 7:00 to
morning is I wake up between 7:00 to 8:30 in the morning every day we’re
8:30 in the morning every day we’re
8:30 in the morning every day we’re neither my kids jump on my bed they
neither my kids jump on my bed they
neither my kids jump on my bed they start screaming they start hitting each
start screaming they start hitting each
start screaming they start hitting each other they start crying something always
other they start crying something always
other they start crying something always happens and I get out of bed I make the
happens and I get out of bed I make the
happens and I get out of bed I make the most of the morning I play with them a
most of the morning I play with them a
most of the morning I play with them a little bit I mean it’s an absolute blast
little bit I mean it’s an absolute blast
little bit I mean it’s an absolute blast then I take a few steps and in less than
then I take a few steps and in less than
then I take a few steps and in less than 5 seconds I’m at work I get into my
5 seconds I’m at work I get into my
5 seconds I’m at work I get into my study I open up my computer and this is
study I open up my computer and this is
study I open up my computer and this is what I see boom 1 2 3
what I see boom 1 2 3
what I see boom 1 2 3 sometimes up to 20 different people with
sometimes up to 20 different people with
sometimes up to 20 different people with other their faces or names on screens on
other their faces or names on screens on
other their faces or names on screens on my computer 30 different people from
my computer 30 different people from
my computer 30 different people from over 10 different nationalities spread
over 10 different nationalities spread
over 10 different nationalities spread all around the world talking nonstop 5
all around the world talking nonstop 5
all around the world talking nonstop 5 different offices around the world 5
different offices around the world 5
different offices around the world 5 different time zones complete chaos but
different time zones complete chaos but
different time zones complete chaos but it’s actually a blast so I do this
it’s actually a blast so I do this
it’s actually a blast so I do this between 2 to 6 hours
between 2 to 6 hours
between 2 to 6 hours every single day of the week I currently
every single day of the week I currently
every single day of the week I currently manage a team of 30 people from 10 very
manage a team of 30 people from 10 very
manage a team of 30 people from 10 very very very very different nationalities I
very very very different nationalities I
very very very different nationalities I don’t actually know what is tougher the
don’t actually know what is tougher the
don’t actually know what is tougher the remote part of having to interact with
remote part of having to interact with
remote part of having to interact with all of my team just using Skype
all of my team just using Skype
all of my team just using Skype videoconference telephone or email or
videoconference telephone or email or
videoconference telephone or email or the different cultural interpretations
the different cultural interpretations
the different cultural interpretations to everyday things that happen in the
to everyday things that happen in the
to everyday things that happen in the workplace
workplace
workplace luckily my own personal journey has been
luckily my own personal journey has been
luckily my own personal journey has been a bit of a nomad experience I was
a bit of a nomad experience I was
a bit of a nomad experience I was actually born here in Spain and before I
actually born here in Spain and before I
actually born here in Spain and before I was even a month I moved to Africa then
was even a month I moved to Africa then
was even a month I moved to Africa then I spend five years in Puerto Rico then a
I spend five years in Puerto Rico then a
I spend five years in Puerto Rico then a few more years in Spain then five years
few more years in Spain then five years
few more years in Spain then five years in the Netherlands then I spent 10 years
in the Netherlands then I spent 10 years
in the Netherlands then I spent 10 years between LA San Francisco in New York
between LA San Francisco in New York
between LA San Francisco in New York please don’t try to add all of this up
please don’t try to add all of this up
please don’t try to add all of this up it’s a little bit chaotic before I move
it’s a little bit chaotic before I move
it’s a little bit chaotic before I move back to Europe travelled a little bit
back to Europe travelled a little bit
back to Europe travelled a little bit around and finally settling down back in
around and finally settling down back in
around and finally settling down back in Madrid I am no expert in cultures I
Madrid I am no expert in cultures I
Madrid I am no expert in cultures I haven’t studied about cultures and I
haven’t studied about cultures and I
haven’t studied about cultures and I haven’t read many books about cultures
haven’t read many books about cultures
haven’t read many books about cultures but I’ve had hundreds of experiences
but I’ve had hundreds of experiences
but I’ve had hundreds of experiences managing everyday problems that arise
managing everyday problems that arise
managing everyday problems that arise from managing a multicultural team
from managing a multicultural team
from managing a multicultural team remotely and still I make many mistakes
remotely and still I make many mistakes
remotely and still I make many mistakes so why am I talking about this today
so why am I talking about this today
so why am I talking about this today because this situation that I face every
because this situation that I face every
because this situation that I face every single day will happen to most of you if
single day will happen to most of you if
single day will happen to most of you if it already hasn’t happened people want
it already hasn’t happened people want
it already hasn’t happened people want flexibility people want the choice of
flexibility people want the choice of
flexibility people want the choice of word work and they want it now take a
word work and they want it now take a
word work and they want it now take a look at this graph here so this is what
look at this graph here so this is what
look at this graph here so this is what Millennials want from the workplace they
Millennials want from the workplace they
Millennials want from the workplace they want training I think we can all agree
want training I think we can all agree
want training I think we can all agree with that you know they want to learn at
with that you know they want to learn at
with that you know they want to learn at work and they want flexible working
work and they want flexible working
work and they want flexible working hours they want to work remotely they
hours they want to work remotely they
hours they want to work remotely they want to choose when they work they want
want to choose when they work they want
want to choose when they work they want to have flexibility during the day they
to have flexibility during the day they
to have flexibility during the day they want this above cash bonuses they want
want this above cash bonuses they want
want this above cash bonuses they want this above private health care they want
this above private health care they want
this above private health care they want this above more vacation I mean they
this above more vacation I mean they
this above more vacation I mean they want this above maternity paternity
want this above maternity paternity
want this above maternity paternity benefits people want flexibility
many people on my team how great it is
many people on my team how great it is to work remotely the reality is that
to work remotely the reality is that
to work remotely the reality is that they end up working a lot more hours
they end up working a lot more hours
they end up working a lot more hours actually a ton more hours very late at
actually a ton more hours very late at
actually a ton more hours very late at night but they love the flexibility that
night but they love the flexibility that
night but they love the flexibility that they have during the middle of the day
they have during the middle of the day
they have during the middle of the day and remote working will become even more
and remote working will become even more
and remote working will become even more common because the new generation of
common because the new generation of
common because the new generation of managers wanted in their workplace and
managers wanted in their workplace and
managers wanted in their workplace and the beauty about remote working is that
the beauty about remote working is that
the beauty about remote working is that you’re actually adding a huge employee
you’re actually adding a huge employee
you’re actually adding a huge employee benefit for much less cost and you’re
benefit for much less cost and you’re
benefit for much less cost and you’re actually creating loyalty for people in
actually creating loyalty for people in
actually creating loyalty for people in the workplace it’s a killer addition for
the workplace it’s a killer addition for
the workplace it’s a killer addition for people but with all this flexibility you
people but with all this flexibility you
people but with all this flexibility you know it’s actually not easy to make it
know it’s actually not easy to make it
know it’s actually not easy to make it happen it’s actually quite tough there
happen it’s actually quite tough there
happen it’s actually quite tough there are tons of problems that arise from
are tons of problems that arise from
are tons of problems that arise from everyday situations in the workplace to
everyday situations in the workplace to
everyday situations in the workplace to illustrate how simple yet complex this
illustrate how simple yet complex this
illustrate how simple yet complex this problem is I I wanted to share a story
problem is I I wanted to share a story
problem is I I wanted to share a story that happened to me about two years ago
that happened to me about two years ago
that happened to me about two years ago when I first started working remotely
when I first started working remotely
when I first started working remotely with my team in South Africa I’ve been
with my team in South Africa I’ve been
with my team in South Africa I’ve been doing this for about five years um and
doing this for about five years um and
doing this for about five years um and as usual I was sitting down in front of
as usual I was sitting down in front of
as usual I was sitting down in front of my computer in Madrid and I had one of
my computer in Madrid and I had one of
my computer in Madrid and I had one of my first conference calls with my team
my first conference calls with my team
my first conference calls with my team in South Africa conference call when
in South Africa conference call when
in South Africa conference call when when grade and at the end of it one of
when grade and at the end of it one of
when grade and at the end of it one of my team members tells me I’ll call you
my team members tells me I’ll call you
my team members tells me I’ll call you just now which I thought oh great I mean
just now which I thought oh great I mean
just now which I thought oh great I mean I was actually very excited to get into
I was actually very excited to get into
I was actually very excited to get into the into the detail of it so I ended the
the into the detail of it so I ended the
the into the detail of it so I ended the call and I waited in front of my
call and I waited in front of my
call and I waited in front of my computer and I waited and I waited and I
computer and I waited and I waited and I
computer and I waited and I waited and I waited and then after about 15 minutes I
waited and then after about 15 minutes I
waited and then after about 15 minutes I sent a message to my team member in in
sent a message to my team member in in
sent a message to my team member in in South Africa and I told him hey are we
South Africa and I told him hey are we
South Africa and I told him hey are we talking just now – which responded yes
talking just now – which responded yes
talking just now – which responded yes yeah just now and he pinged me this
yeah just now and he pinged me this
yeah just now and he pinged me this message sent me this image describing
message sent me this image describing
message sent me this image describing how South Africans define time so just
how South Africans define time so just
how South Africans define time so just now wasn’t you know I think what we’re
now wasn’t you know I think what we’re
now wasn’t you know I think what we’re all thinking right now you know we’ll
all thinking right now you know we’ll
all thinking right now you know we’ll talk in a couple of seconds or a couple
talk in a couple of seconds or a couple
talk in a couple of seconds or a couple of minutes for South Africans just now
of minutes for South Africans just now
of minutes for South Africans just now can me can mean you know we’ll talk in
can me can mean you know we’ll talk in
can me can mean you know we’ll talk in the future hopefully today if not
the future hopefully today if not
the future hopefully today if not tomorrow maybe someday in the distant
tomorrow maybe someday in the distant
tomorrow maybe someday in the distant future you don’t really know when you’re
future you don’t really know when you’re
future you don’t really know when you’re going to talk
going to talk
going to talk how could something so simple such as
how could something so simple such as
how could something so simple such as expressions about time lead to such
expressions about time lead to such
expressions about time lead to such misunderstanding and this had been an
misunderstanding and this had been an
misunderstanding and this had been an internal meeting so it wasn’t a big
internal meeting so it wasn’t a big
internal meeting so it wasn’t a big problem but imagine this had been an
problem but imagine this had been an
problem but imagine this had been an external meeting with clients cultural
external meeting with clients cultural
external meeting with clients cultural differences can lead to huge
differences can lead to huge
differences can lead to huge misunderstandings and the remoteness
misunderstandings and the remoteness
misunderstandings and the remoteness part of it made it even worse because I
part of it made it even worse because I
part of it made it even worse because I couldn’t get out of my desk go around
couldn’t get out of my desk go around
couldn’t get out of my desk go around the hallway tap the person in the
the hallway tap the person in the
the hallway tap the person in the shoulder and say are we talking just now
shoulder and say are we talking just now
shoulder and say are we talking just now and of course this was my first week at
and of course this was my first week at
and of course this was my first week at work and I didn’t want to sound like an
work and I didn’t want to sound like an
work and I didn’t want to sound like an idiot asking these questions with my own
idiot asking these questions with my own
idiot asking these questions with my own team remote working situations can be
team remote working situations can be
team remote working situations can be even more confusing so just this week we
even more confusing so just this week we
even more confusing so just this week we we launched the project in India and it
we launched the project in India and it
we launched the project in India and it went extremely well and I wanted to
went extremely well and I wanted to
went extremely well and I wanted to share my enthusiasm with my team so I in
share my enthusiasm with my team so I in
share my enthusiasm with my team so I in one of our weekly weekly calls I shared
one of our weekly weekly calls I shared
one of our weekly weekly calls I shared with with the rest of team and I told
with with the rest of team and I told
with with the rest of team and I told one of my Indian co-workers you’re
one of my Indian co-workers you’re
one of my Indian co-workers you’re killing it out there and the next day –
killing it out there and the next day –
killing it out there and the next day – to my surprise I get an email very early
to my surprise I get an email very early
to my surprise I get an email very early in the morning from my Indian team
in the morning from my Indian team
in the morning from my Indian team member asking me up what did I what did
member asking me up what did I what did
member asking me up what did I what did I do wrong
I do wrong
I do wrong can can you give me advice can you tell
can can you give me advice can you tell
can can you give me advice can you tell me how I can improve and I was taken
me how I can improve and I was taken
me how I can improve and I was taken aback I I was actually trying to express
aback I I was actually trying to express
aback I I was actually trying to express my enthusiasm and the great job that he
my enthusiasm and the great job that he
my enthusiasm and the great job that he had done and he had interpreted
had done and he had interpreted
had done and he had interpreted something completely different the exact
something completely different the exact
something completely different the exact same sentence in the exact same language
same sentence in the exact same language
same sentence in the exact same language being understood in two completely
being understood in two completely
being understood in two completely different ways the lack of context
different ways the lack of context
different ways the lack of context created this misunderstanding context is
created this misunderstanding context is
created this misunderstanding context is absolutely necessary when working with
absolutely necessary when working with
absolutely necessary when working with remote teams so even with two teams with
remote teams so even with two teams with
remote teams so even with two teams with the same natural language such as
the same natural language such as
the same natural language such as English there are still problems created
English there are still problems created
English there are still problems created due to due to lack of context so about a
due to due to lack of context so about a
due to due to lack of context so about a year ago I was having quite a few
year ago I was having quite a few
year ago I was having quite a few communication problems between my US and
communication problems between my US and
communication problems between my US and my London based teams we had tons of
my London based teams we had tons of
my London based teams we had tons of meetings probably too many nowadays and
meetings probably too many nowadays and
meetings probably too many nowadays and in most companies and lots of actions
in most companies and lots of actions
in most companies and lots of actions were coming out lots of activities were
were coming out lots of activities were
were coming out lots of activities were doing lots of things but
doing lots of things but
doing lots of things but the results were poor people were not
the results were poor people were not
the results were poor people were not communicating well too well with each
communicating well too well with each
communicating well too well with each other and people were getting extremely
other and people were getting extremely
other and people were getting extremely frustrated so I needed to do something
frustrated so I needed to do something
frustrated so I needed to do something about this so I bought 30 copies of a
about this so I bought 30 copies of a
about this so I bought 30 copies of a book about how to work with people from
book about how to work with people from
book about how to work with people from different cultures and I gave my whole
different cultures and I gave my whole
different cultures and I gave my whole team this book here the culture map by
team this book here the culture map by
team this book here the culture map by Aaron Mayer and the effect was
Aaron Mayer and the effect was
Aaron Mayer and the effect was absolutely amazing it brought out in the
absolutely amazing it brought out in the
absolutely amazing it brought out in the open in plain sight how different people
open in plain sight how different people
open in plain sight how different people are on the team so I had 30 different
are on the team so I had 30 different
are on the team so I had 30 different people from 10 very different
people from 10 very different
people from 10 very different nationalities that were all speaking the
nationalities that were all speaking the
nationalities that were all speaking the exact same language in this case English
exact same language in this case English
exact same language in this case English but we’re all saying things that were
but we’re all saying things that were
but we’re all saying things that were completely different and were acting
completely different and were acting
completely different and were acting completely different in the same
completely different in the same
completely different in the same situations so for example my team in
situations so for example my team in
situations so for example my team in Latin America they’re very hierarchical
Latin America they’re very hierarchical
Latin America they’re very hierarchical so they didn’t understand when people
so they didn’t understand when people
so they didn’t understand when people were responding in certain ways or my US
were responding in certain ways or my US
were responding in certain ways or my US and my Dutch team is based in in London
and my Dutch team is based in in London
and my Dutch team is based in in London they found it completely normal that in
they found it completely normal that in
they found it completely normal that in the middle of a conference call you can
the middle of a conference call you can
the middle of a conference call you can interrupt the person and you can say
interrupt the person and you can say
interrupt the person and you can say your opinion and other people were going
your opinion and other people were going
your opinion and other people were going absolutely not to this this
absolutely not to this this
absolutely not to this this self-awareness and bringing this out in
self-awareness and bringing this out in
self-awareness and bringing this out in this open was absolutely amazing it was
this open was absolutely amazing it was
this open was absolutely amazing it was a key driving force for our success so I
a key driving force for our success so I
a key driving force for our success so I think we all agree that remote working
think we all agree that remote working
think we all agree that remote working is great and now having this flexibility
is great and now having this flexibility
is great and now having this flexibility in the workplace is absolutely amazing
in the workplace is absolutely amazing
in the workplace is absolutely amazing but it can actually also lead to
but it can actually also lead to
but it can actually also lead to loneliness in my case over the last five
loneliness in my case over the last five
loneliness in my case over the last five years I’ve actually felt lonely quite a
years I’ve actually felt lonely quite a
years I’ve actually felt lonely quite a few times sitting in my my little study
few times sitting in my my little study
few times sitting in my my little study in front of my computer all by myself
in front of my computer all by myself
in front of my computer all by myself and when I’ve been in the office with
and when I’ve been in the office with
and when I’ve been in the office with other people and actually have to travel
other people and actually have to travel
other people and actually have to travel I felt very lonely on the road I had to
I felt very lonely on the road I had to
I felt very lonely on the road I had to take lots of conference calls in hotel
take lots of conference calls in hotel
take lots of conference calls in hotel rooms in trains in planes in public
rooms in trains in planes in public
rooms in trains in planes in public bathrooms even you know in in horrible
bathrooms even you know in in horrible
bathrooms even you know in in horrible situations I had to take calls in the
situations I had to take calls in the
situations I had to take calls in the middle of the morning now very late at
middle of the morning now very late at
middle of the morning now very late at night at three four five six o’clock in
night at three four five six o’clock in
night at three four five six o’clock in the morning I mean really horrible
the morning I mean really horrible
the morning I mean really horrible situations both physically
situations both physically
situations both physically and mentally challenging situations so
and mentally challenging situations so
and mentally challenging situations so you have to find a way to make yourself
you have to find a way to make yourself
you have to find a way to make yourself be in a comfortable situation co-working
be in a comfortable situation co-working
be in a comfortable situation co-working areas such as this one here are great to
areas such as this one here are great to
areas such as this one here are great to solve this problem you I mean you can
solve this problem you I mean you can
solve this problem you I mean you can feel that you’re part of a company you
feel that you’re part of a company you
feel that you’re part of a company you can feel that work is being done sitting
can feel that work is being done sitting
can feel that work is being done sitting around with other people you can network
around with other people you can network
around with other people you can network with others you can get inspired by
with others you can get inspired by
with others you can get inspired by others you know you can inspire others
others you know you can inspire others
others you know you can inspire others you can just get out of your chair grab
you can just get out of your chair grab
you can just get out of your chair grab a coffee and have a conversation with
a coffee and have a conversation with
a coffee and have a conversation with someone from a completely different
someone from a completely different
someone from a completely different company you just feel that work is being
company you just feel that work is being
company you just feel that work is being done so remote working and what
done so remote working and what
done so remote working and what co-working areas are absolutely great I
co-working areas are absolutely great I
co-working areas are absolutely great I think there’s there’s no doubt about it
think there’s there’s no doubt about it
think there’s there’s no doubt about it but the reality is that you still need
but the reality is that you still need
but the reality is that you still need physical presence to create a truly
physical presence to create a truly
physical presence to create a truly incredible team you can have amazing
incredible team you can have amazing
incredible team you can have amazing relationships just via video conference
relationships just via video conference
relationships just via video conference via email you can you can establish some
via email you can you can establish some
via email you can you can establish some sort of relationship between your team
sort of relationship between your team
sort of relationship between your team but you need the physical presence to
but you need the physical presence to
but you need the physical presence to create empathy to really add empathy to
create empathy to really add empathy to
create empathy to really add empathy to your team so remote working is the
your team so remote working is the
your team so remote working is the future but you need physical presence at
future but you need physical presence at
future but you need physical presence at least a couple of times a year to truly
least a couple of times a year to truly
least a couple of times a year to truly create an amazing team so I want to
create an amazing team so I want to
create an amazing team so I want to leave here today with one last thought
leave here today with one last thought
leave here today with one last thought to share with everyone I want you to
to share with everyone I want you to
to share with everyone I want you to start thinking about what you need to do
start thinking about what you need to do
start thinking about what you need to do to be able to wake up in the future
to be able to wake up in the future
to be able to wake up in the future hopefully not a very distant future and
hopefully not a very distant future and
hopefully not a very distant future and to be able to get up every morning with
to be able to get up every morning with
to be able to get up every morning with your loved ones and with your family and
your loved ones and with your family and
your loved ones and with your family and be able to take your first call in a
be able to take your first call in a
be able to take your first call in a place such as this sometimes being away
place such as this sometimes being away
place such as this sometimes being away from your co-workers isn’t such a bad
from your co-workers isn’t such a bad
from your co-workers isn’t such a bad thing thank you
thing thank you
thing thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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