Welcome Larry
We’re joined on the Starline by Author Larry English. His new book “Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams” is available now.
Let’s go Beyond the Mic Larry, since the Coronavirus outbreak companies have moved with various successes to remote work. Your book covers creating a virtual company and the successes and pitfalls therein. Why do some companies succeed with moving virtually while some fail?
There are people who can’t handle virtual culture, how do you help these people be successful in a world where there isn’t a water cooler to brainstorm at? Because some of the best ideas come from talking it out with someone away from your desk. It can’t be ‘we’re going to have water cooler time from 9:05-9:15. Sometimes it’s I have a problem, I need a solution but I don’t know how to get there.
When you graduated Miami University with a B.S. in Applied Science and Systems Analysis did you ever think you and a couple of friends would co-found a consulting firm with non centralized workers all over the world?
How has your 4 sons tackled Coronavirus quarantine?
Trust
Trust is an important factor in remote work. You have to be able to trust your employees will get the work done while giving them the freedom to do it on their own time. How is trust so important for companies to succeed with remote work
One problem I have discovered in working from home during COVID is the lack of time just talking to co-workers about their lives, families, the things that bind teams together. How do you solve those team building exercises while remaining 6 feet apart or in some cases MUCH further away?
When someone comes in that just doesn’t fit, how do you eliminate the mismatch without hurting your existing superstars?
What happens when you have someone who may have a talent deficit but has a work ethic that overcomes that talent shortage?
How has loyalty made your company so strong and how can you teach loyalty to companies who might be in it for the quick buck?
Another issue with companies is the dreaded conference call where nobody can mute their damn phones correctly and something that should take 20 minutes takes an hour. How do you disseminate information to your employees without the sounds of toilets flushing and supermarket shopping in the background and that occasional shower?
The Rockin’ 8
Time is running out, so it’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind.
There is no Pressure.
1. Favorite Ohio Sports Team?
2. What’s the most annoying bill you have to pay each month is…
3. One of your company’s traditions is to sneak embarrassing photos from high school etc into company meetings to loosen things up. What’s the photo they used for you?
4. You backpacked around the world, where was the best and worst place in that trip?
5. Best Beatles song of all time
6. What one thing you do that annoys your loving wife of many many years to no end?
7. Your vice chairman of the board of Mount Carmel Health System, what’s the one challenge you see (other than the challenge of COVID) in healthcare that we will be tackling in the next decade?
8. When will the US Mens National Soccer Team get to a World Cup Final in your lifetime?
Larry, where can people find the book?
His favorite Beatles song is all you need it love, was actually beat up for wearing a Michigan jersey in Ohio. He wants you to read “Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams”, author Larry English, thanks for taking the time to talk with me today.
And that my friends is Beyond the Mic.
Check out Larry’s site here
