The Mindset Companies Need to Make Remote Work, Work with Jason Fried (Space Matters, ep. 5)

Jason Fried joins Kursty to share wisdom on how he runs a fully remote company by simplifying things and focusing on what matters. They explore where deep work happens, how to create space for it, why rigid workplace rules can kill passion and create distractions, and why companies that want to run remotely need to adopt a new mindset. 

Jason Fried is the co-founder of Basecamp and has been running the company for 23 years. He is a monthly columnist at Inc. Magazine and has authored several books, including Rework and Remote: Office Not Required.

“A lot of work doesn’t happen in the office. A lot of distractions happen in the office. We get in each other’s way all the time.” - Jason Fried

Support the show

Timestamps

[01:13] Who is Jason Fried? 

[04:16] How did Jason grow Basecamp?

[06:32] Where do people do their best work?

[09:28] How to create the space to do great work.

[13:44] Why don’t people have the space to do great work? 

[17:58] Why remote work requires a different mindset from physical work.

[22:32] 40-hour week: how much can you get done in 8 hours?

[25:34] Balancing work life and home life when working remotely. 

[29:02]  What if employees abuse our generosity or trust?

[34:18] Organisational culture is NOT created.

[36:47] How to stay social when your company is fully remote (expensive but not frivolous).

[41:01] JOMO - The joy of missing out.

[43:25] Creating great and safe digital workspaces. 

[47:24] How to stay in touch with Jason Fried

4 Key Takeaways

1. People need space to do great work. When space is restricted by workplace rules, people aren’t able to fulfil their potential. Restrictions include being monitored or watched, not being able to move while working, and being forced to work in specific places or at specific times. 
2. Remote work requires a different mindset from local work. Among many other aspects, it requires more trust, fewer meetings, more individual work, and less oversight. If companies don’t adopt a different mindset governing remote work, it may be worse than physical work.
3. Being driven by philosophies rather than rules can make organisations more flexible and adaptable. It creates a more open, lenient, and thoughtful culture and more space for agency and openness.  
4. Culture is not created; it's a byproduct of consistent behaviour. 

Links 

Why Work Does not Happen at Work: Jason Fried at TEDxMidwest

Books by Jason Fried: Amazon

Jason’s new email service: Hey

Connect with Jason Fried: Newsletter | LinkedIn | Twitter

Connect with Kursty Groves: LinkedIn | Twitter | Ask a question

Support the show