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: Samson Baxter
Company: Fursonafy
Linkedin Profile:
Samson Baxter’s favorite quote: “ I really like this quote from the comedian Bo Burnham: “don’t take advice from people like me who have gotten very lucky. We’re very biased… Taylor Swift telling you to follow your dreams is like a lottery winner telling you to “liquidize your assets, buy powerball tickets – it works!””“
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, remote work has become a prevailing trend, offering flexibility and opportunities for individuals and organizations alike. To delve into the intricacies of effective communication, work-life balance, and inspiring leadership in a remote work environment, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Samson Baxter, the visionary CEO of Fursonafy. With a fascinating backstory that encompasses a transition from freelance writer to successful entrepreneur, Samson brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the table. In this interview article, we explore his insights on remote team collaboration, tools for enhanced communication, strategies for achieving work-life balance, and even a thought-provoking favorite quote that encapsulates his perspective on success. Join us as we unlock the secrets to thriving in a remote work setting with Samson Baxter as our guide.
The Interview
Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your backstory?
Samson Baxter : Thanks for having me. I got into this whole online business thing as a freelance writer. I would basically spend my days writing miscellaneous articles for a bunch of different blogs I didn’t really care about. But, one day I had a moment of clarity where I realise I didn’t have to be writing the blog, I could be running the blog myself. So I a few business ventures later I arrived at Fursonafy, probably my proudest work.
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?
Samson Baxter : Ensuring effective communication amongs team members remotely can be a nightmare. A lot of the members of my development and design team are dotted around the world so communicating with them definitely has its challenges. However, one key tip I can give for managing all of this chaos is making a list. When I was updating the site from the old beat-up version that I made myself to the much cleaner and more functional site you see today there were many hurdles to overcome. But what made these hurdles much easier to clear was a to-do list. Noting everything that I need to tell each team down and checking it off once I had told them and then giving it yet another check once the task was complete was a huge weight off my chest. Being able to just look at a document and see “designers did “x”, “y” and “z” but developers need to change “a”, “b” and “c” still”, meant I know longer had to bare the stress of trying to remember what I need to tell each team of people to do for the day. Tools like Trello are amazing for this and I highly recommend that anyone in a managerial position uses it.
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?
Samson Baxter : Ensuring effective communication amongs team members remotely can be a nightmare. A lot of the members of my development and design team are dotted around the world so communicating with them definitely has its challenges. However, one key tip I can give for managing all of this chaos is making a list. When I was updating the site from the old beat-up version that I made myself to the much cleaner and more functional site you see today there were many hurdles to overcome. But what made these hurdles much easier to clear was a to-do list. Noting everything that I need to tell each team down and checking it off once I had told them and then giving it yet another check once the task was complete was a huge weight off my chest. Being able to just look at a document and see “designers did “x”, “y” and “z” but developers need to change “a”, “b” and “c” still”, meant I know longer had to bare the stress of trying to remember what I need to tell each team of people to do for the day. Tools like Trello are amazing for this and I highly recommend that anyone in a managerial position uses it.
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?
Samson Baxter : This may sound silly, but creating an actual physical boundary between your work space and your leisure space works wonders for your mental capacity to concentrate on the task at hand. This is why I always advise against having your workspace in your bedroom, lounge etc. as your brain associates these spaces with not working and can lead to burnout way quicker. Alternatively if you have no choice but to work in these spaces, try going to a coffee shop or anywhere with an internet connection and working there, this also acts as a means of getting out of the house and giving yourself a little mental reset. In terms of organisations supporting their employees, I am a huge advocate for the 4-day work week. I believe that if productivity remains the same if not is improved by the 4-day work week then there is no reason for you not to implement it. If you are an employer you have to remember that your employees are people to, they aren’t just money generating machines, so if you want better work out of them you have to allow them a healthy work-life balance.
Leaders Perception Magazine would like to thank Samson Baxter and Fursonafy for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
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