Leaders Perception Magazine is currently running an interview series called – Building a Successful Remote Work Culture: Discussing strategies and best practices for fostering a productive and engaged remote workforce, addressing topics like communication, collaboration tools, work-life balance, and employee well-being
Interviewee Name: Bryan Clayton
Company: GreenPal
Position: CEO
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214
Bryan Clayton’s favorite quote: “ Focus less on the things that don’t matter”
Effective Communication and Collaboration in Remote Teams: Bryan Clayton shares how GreenPal ensures communication and collaboration in their remote team, using Slack, Zoom, and Notion.
Creating Work-Life Balance in Remote Work: Bryan Clayton provides strategies for remote employees to establish boundaries, including setting schedules, dedicated workspaces, taking breaks, and making time for personal activities. He also suggests ways organizations can support work-life balance, such as providing flexibility, promoting wellness, and respecting boundaries.
The Interview
Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your backstory?
Bryan Clayton : Bryan Clayton is CEO and cofounder of GreenPal an online marketplace that connects homeowners with Local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 200,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.
Before starting GreenPal Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc. one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013.
How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration among remote team members? Can you share any specific tools or practices that have been particularly effective for your organization?
Bryan Clayton : Hi, I’m Bryan Clayton, the CEO and co-founder of GreenPal. We have 47 people scattered throughout the world fully remote and have been since day one for over 10 years. Here’s how we ensure effective communication and collaboration among our remote team members:
• We use Slack as our main communication tool. We have channels for different topics, projects, and teams. We also have a daily stand-up channel where everyone shares their progress, challenges, and plans for the day. Slack helps us stay connected, informed, and aligned.
• We use Zoom for video calls and meetings. We have weekly team meetings where we discuss our goals, metrics, and feedback. We also have monthly all-hands meetings where we celebrate our wins, recognize our stars, and share our vision. Zoom helps us build trust, rapport, and culture.
• We use Notion as our knowledge base and documentation tool. We have pages for our processes, policies, best practices, and learnings. We also have pages for our OKRs, KPIs, and roadmaps. Notion helps us stay organized, transparent, and accountable.
These are some of the tools and practices that have been effective for our organization. They help us communicate and collaborate as a remote team.
Maintaining work-life balance can be challenging in a remote work environment. What strategies do you recommend for remote employees to create boundaries between work and personal life? How can organizations support their employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance?
Bryan Clayton : You’re right, maintaining work-life balance can be challenging in a remote work environment. Here are some strategies that I recommend for remote employees to create boundaries between work and personal life:
• Set a regular schedule and stick to it. Having a consistent routine can help you manage your time, prioritize your tasks, and avoid distractions. It can also help you separate your work hours from your personal hours, and signal to others when you’re available or not.
• Create a dedicated workspace and keep it tidy. Having a designated area for work can help you focus, stay organized, and minimize interruptions. It can also help you mentally switch on and off from work mode, and prevent your work from spilling over into other areas of your home.
• Take breaks and disconnect. Taking short breaks throughout the day can help you recharge, relax, and refresh your mind. It can also help you prevent burnout, stress, and fatigue. You should also disconnect from work-related communication and devices after your work hours, and avoid checking them until the next day.
• Set boundaries and communicate them clearly. You should communicate your expectations, availability, and preferences to your colleagues, managers, clients, and family members. You should also respect their boundaries and understand their needs. This can help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and interruptions.
• Make time for yourself and your loved ones. You should allocate some time every day for your hobbies, interests, and passions. You should also spend some quality time with your friends, family, and pets. This can help you have fun, enjoy life, and nurture your relationships.
These are some of the strategies that I use to create boundaries between work and personal life as a remote worker. They help me achieve a healthy work-life balance.
How can organizations support their employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance? Here are some ways that organizations can do that:
• Provide flexible work options and trust their employees. Organizations should allow their employees to choose their own work hours, location, and pace, as long as they meet their goals and deadlines. They should also trust their employees to manage their own time and productivity, and avoid micromanaging or monitoring them excessively.
• Encourage a culture of wellness and support. Organizations should promote a culture of wellness and support among their employees. They should provide resources, benefits, and incentives for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They should also encourage their employees to share their challenges, feedback, and achievements, and offer them recognition, appreciation, and assistance.
• Respect their employees’ boundaries and preferences. Organizations should respect their employees’ boundaries and preferences regarding their work-life balance. They should not expect them to be available or responsive at all times or outside their work hours. They should also accommodate their different communication styles, learning styles, and working styles.
These are some of the ways that organizations can support their employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance. They can help them feel valued, respected, and empowered as remote workers.
Leaders Perception Magazine would like to thank Bryan Clayton and GreenPal for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
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