Atlassian's resident tech futurist Dom Price.
When it comes to the global pandemic and the abrupt shift to remote work, even a tech giant such as Atlassian can be caught unawares, according to the Aussie unicorns resident tech futurist.
Speaking at Qualtrics Work Different event lastweek, Dominic Price said the key to leadership during the pandemic is experimentation and vulnerability. Ultimately, that can lead to long-lasting positive outcomes.
Even before the pandemic, Atlassians third-biggest office was home office, Price said in the online session. So, when the whole workforce went remote, there was a touch of complacency.
We thought we were just going to be naturally really good at it that once we flipped to working from home it was just going to be normal, he explained.
Actually, what we learnt quite quickly is that our habits, our rituals, were really baked in being in an office that water-cooler conversation, the incidental meeting in the corridor, a whole lot of habits that just didnt work suddenly in a remote fashion.
Get COVID-19 news you can use delivered to your inbox.
Youll also receive special offers from our partners. You can opt-out at any time.
The key to adapting has been listening to employees, taking pulse surveys, and keeping lines of communication very much open.
We practice stuff, if it works, we do more of it. If it doesnt, we can always roll it back.
For Price personally, despite working in a business built on innovation, it has helped to take a step back from technology once in a while.
When he starts feeling Zoom fatigue, he switches a few meetings to be audio-only, putting on his headphones and going for a stroll while chatting.
We started to evolve technology almost backwards, he said.
Its bizarre how old school talking on the phone suddenly felt.
COVID-19 is shaking up peoples everyday lives, both in work and home scenarios. That gives us space to challenge some of the social and professional constructs we tend to take for granted.
From a workplace perspective, one of those is place, Price said.
Even pre-pandemic, many knowledge workers had multiple workplaces anyway, flitting between home, the office, and a collection of favourite coffee shops.
For the most part, employees who can complete their tasks alone can work from anywhere.
Our job as leaders and custodians is to create an environment where they feel comfortable and flexible to do that, Price said.
Why should you need a desk in an office and a certain commute time to do that?
The challenge is, once you have a work-from-anywhere model, how do we team from anywhere?
It comes down to experimentation, Price says, and that can seem scary. But, during a global pandemic, when business-as-usual is out of the window and uncertainty abounds, theres actually never been a better time to experiment.
We have this desire to be right, and experimentation means youre probably going to be wrong as much as your right, and we stray away from it, he explained.
As leaders, weve got this opportunity the hard part here is the vulnerability, he added.
The superpower of a great leader in this modern world is the ability to be authentic and vulnerable. And thats not perfect, its beautifully imperfect.
Opening up these conversations within teams, about how to experiment and improve the remote workplace allows leaders to evolve, rather than simply telling others to, Price said.
It still amazes me, even before the pandemic, the number of leaders I was working with who were driving transformations agile, culture, digital transformations but they werent changing themselves.
We have to be able to walk the walk and talk the talk in these times. When we role model those behaviours, you will build momentum in all of your teammates around the world.
Price is the first to admit that moving to a remote-first workplace and maintaining a team mindset is no easy feat.
But, the benefits could be wide-reaching, and lasting.
Distributed teams can expand the talent pool within their reach, he noted.
If we design this on purpose, we can build environments that are way more inclusive than ever before, he said.
Literally commuting to an office rules out a whole lot of people from being able to work.
While some leaders are treating this adjustment as something to be endured, if they go about it mindfully, its an opportunity for investment in the future of any business.
You get access to a whole new talent base that has amazing ideas, and amazing backgrounds and amazing innovation weve just not tapped into them yet.
NOW READ: A specific kind of leader will see success during this pandemic, says Bren Brown
NOW READ: Atlassian makes remote work permanent, to create the future of work by living it
Small and medium businesses and startups have never needed credible, independent journalism and information more than now.
Thats our job at SmartCompany: to keep you informed with the news, interviews and analysis you need to manage your way through this unprecedented crisis.
Now, theres a way you can help us keep doing this: by becoming a SmartCompany supporter.
Even a small contribution will help us to keep doing the journalism that keeps Australias entrepreneurs informed.
Original post:
Dom Price on leadership during COVID-19, and what Atlassian got wrong - SmartCompany.com.au
- Alzheimer's May Spread Through Blood Transfusions, Scientists Find - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- So Much Polar Ice Is Melting That It's Slowing Down the Earth's Rotation - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Scientists Alarmed to Discover Microplastics in Ancient Archaeological Dig - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Crazed CEOs Adding AI to Home Appliances - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- NASA's First Artemis Moon Astronauts Will Bring Small Greenhouse to Lunar Surface - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Twitter Caught Selling Data to Government Spies While Complaining About Surveillance - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Scientist Who Gene-Edited Human Babies Back in the Lab Again After Prison Release - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Investigation Finds What Really Happens If You Actually Click Those PUSSYINBIO Links - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Reddit's Stock Is Already Collapsing - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Official NYC Chatbot Encouraging Small Businesses to Break the Law - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Marineland Under Investigation Amid 17 Beluga Deaths - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Experts Say Bridge Collapsed Because It Was Struck by Giant Ship - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- The James Webb's Beautiful Images Actually Arrive in Black and White - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- ChatGPT Use Linked to Memory Loss, Procrastination in Students - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Rich People Hiking Mount Everest Now Forced to Bring Their Poop Back With Them - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Cargo Giant That Took Out Bridge Had Silenced Whistleblower Who Warned About Safety - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Against All Odds, Japan's Toppled Moon Lander Is Still Alive - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- OpenAI Let Directors Make Short Films With Sora and the Results Are Wild - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Google Pushing Its Unsafe Search AI on Users Who Didn't Opt In - Futurism - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Microsoft's Super Bowl AI Ad Will Get Dumbest People You Know Absolutely Hyped - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Genes Aren't Actually the Blueprint of Life, Experts Say - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Tesla Driver Says He's Not Sure If He Killed a Pedestrian Because He Was on Autopilot - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Google Renames Its Forgettable AI in Fight to Stay Relevant - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Sierra Space Reveals "Star Wars"-Looking New Spaceship - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Sample From Distant Asteroid Shows Signs of Originating on Ocean World - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Facebook Exec Warned Zuckerberg Might Have Panic Attack and Faint - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Mounjaro Patients Show Hugely Improved Blood Pressure - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Wait, Did Elon Musk Just Hint He's Going to Buy Disney? - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Tesla Is Officially the Worst-Performing S&P 500 Stock of the Year - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Massive European Satellite to Plummet Back Down to Earth Uncontrollably - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- "Pro Life Spider Man" Tries to Climb the Sphere in Las Vegas, Gets Immediately Arrested - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Fusion Reactor Produces Record Amount of Energy in Final Experiment - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- If You Have Signs of Dementia, Doctors Found a Way to Help - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Fusion Facility Generates Twice the Power Put Into It - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Nicki Minaj, Who's Used AI, Decries Use of AI - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- NASA Spacecraft Swoops So Close to Io That It Can See Volcanic Eruptions - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Harvard Scientist Presents New Evidence That Samples Are Alien Spacecraft - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Transcript: The Futurist: The Rise of AI - The Washington Post - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Operator of AI-Powered Joe Biden Unmasked, Criminal Investigation Opened - Futurism - February 13th, 2024 [February 13th, 2024]
- Twitter Suddenly Suspends Journalists Critical of Elon Musk - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Experts Warn Against Strip Mining the Moon - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Satellites Show the East Coast Is Sinking - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Millions of Plastic Pellets Wash Up on Shore - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- We'd Like to See the Chain of Custody on Elon Musk's Pee After the Drug Allegations - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Scientists Working to Explain "Superstructures" on Ocean Floor - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Gaping Hole in Boeing 737 Linked to Stuffing More Passengers Into Flights - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Rejoice! Device That Sprays Your Butthole Now Connects to Alexa for Voice Control - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Wizards of the Coast Denies "Magic: The Gathering" Art Was AI-Generated, Then Admits It Was - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Zuckerberg Brags About Feeding Cows Macadamia Nuts and Beer at His Alleged Doomsday Bunker - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- People Close to Elon Musk Concerned About Alleged Drug Use, Slurring Words - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX Sues Government Over Claim It Fired Employees for Criticizing Elon Musk - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Tesla Admits Its Cars Have Shorter Driving Range Than It Claimed - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Remember That Uber-Hyped "AI Pin" Startup? It's Already Doing Layoffs - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- The Mighty Cybertruck Keeps Getting Stuck in the Snow - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Robotics Expert Says AI Hype Is Due for a Brutal Reality Check - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Schoolteacher Finds Door Plug That Fell Off Boeing 737 in His Backyard - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Experts Alarmed After Large Piece Blows Off Boeing 737 Mid-Flight - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX Releases Bizarre Video in Attempt to Prove Elon Wasn't on Drugs - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- Scientists Have Been Studying Your Pee and They Finally Have Answers - Futurism - January 12th, 2024 [January 12th, 2024]
- What should we expect in 2024? We asked three futurists - ISRAEL21c - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Partiers Attempt to Celebrate New Year's Twice With Flight Between Time Zones, Accidentally Land in Wrong Year - Futurism - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Adopted Child Accused of Secretly Being an Adult Takes DNA Test to Prove Age - Futurism - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Congress Receiving Mysterious Classified Briefing About UFOs - Futurism - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Driver Injured in First Cybertruck Crash - Futurism - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Kiki Goti STIRred 2023 with striking visions of maximalism and neo-futurism - STIRpad - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Scary AI Can Look at Photos and Figure Out Exactly Where They Were Taken - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Scientists Simulated Runaway Greenhouse Effect and It's Horrifying - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Jeff Bezos Discusses Plans for a Trillion People to Live in Huge Cylindrical Space Stations - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Car Dealership Disturbed When Its AI Is Caught Offering Chevys for $1 Each - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- DNA Tests Are a Fun Holiday Gift... Unless They Reveal a Horrifying Secret - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- NASA Proudly Shows Off Desiccated Tomatos Lost in Space Station Crevice - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Man Horrified When Someone Uses AI to Reword and Republish All His Content, Complete With New Errors - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- DeepMind Says Its AI Solved a Math Problem That Humans Were Stumped By - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Booze Affects Sperm More than a Month After Cessation in Mouse Research - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- There May Be Some Big Tech Names on the Unsealed Epstein List - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Teslas Crash More Than Any Other Brand, Analysis Finds - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Microsoft's Stuffing Talking Generative AI Into Your Car - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Those Scam Texts You're Getting Are Sent By Victims of Human Trafficking - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]
- Tesla Driver Forced to Pay After Killing Two People on Autopilot - Futurism - December 22nd, 2023 [December 22nd, 2023]