Hi Coder,

After the pandemic, we learned that people can be productive and efficient while working from the comfort of their homes. However, this flexibility comes with its own set of challenges and potential stress, especially when working remotely for a startup. That's why I decided to write this article: to help you succeed at work even when things seem a bit chaotic.
In a remote environment, it is easy to forget to respond to a question asked on Slack or to put off tasks for a few days that later become urgent. While this can happen in on-site jobs too, a colleague can show up at your desk to work on the task together. This is not the case in a remote team, where problems that aren't tackled or don't have a specific plan of attack can quickly be forgotten.

This is one of the many issues that remote teams experience and I want to share with you my journey at a startup and how I've been able to thrive (or at least survive).

Bias for Action

In startups, formal processes are often minimal, and employees frequently juggle multiple responsibilities. For instance, you might find yourself interviewing a candidate while simultaneously working on a product feature. Or, you could be fixing a bug while collaborating with other developers on designing scalable infrastructure. This environment naturally comes with a bit of chaos, especially considering that you and your coworkers might be working remotely across different time zones and asynchronously.

Although this might seem like a recipe for disaster, you can thrive by staying organized and embracing a bias for action. When you identify an opportunity for improvement, take the initiative to address it and then communicate your actions to your team and manager. They will appreciate your proactive approach, your commitment to the company's success, and your efforts to drive improvements. Focus on understanding problems and devising creative solutions, rather than merely presenting issues to the team. By doing so, you help bridge the gap between challenges and solutions within your company.

Let me share with you one of my first achievements at work a month after I was hired.

Document What You Are Doing

When encountering difficult challenges at work, make sure to document them thoroughly. Write down step-by-step instructions on how you solved the issue and create videos for yourself and your team detailing how you overcame the problem. While some challenges might be unique, having a knowledge base can be invaluable if they recur.

You can use different tools like Loom videos, Google Docs, spreadsheets, or any other medium to document your processes or solutions. The specific tool isn't as important as ensuring the information is recorded somewhere accessible. This documentation will be a valuable resource for new team members, equipping them with the information they need to succeed and freeing you from the need to remember every detail or solution to past problems. Building and maintaining processes is essential in startups, benefiting the entire company, yourself, and future team members.

With the rise of AI, you and your team members will have different learning options from the documentation you've created. For instance, one of your videos can be transcribed, and the highlights can be shared with a customer so that they understand their problem and how to solve it on their own. Some people dislike reading long documentation, but a video transcript can be of great aid. AI is great when used to help you and your team learn from each other and work more efficiently.

Here's a screenshot of the internal documentation I am working on

Over-communicate

Communication is the key to thriving in a remote team. Communicate with your team about what you need to succeed, with your manager about roadblocks (especially during your 1:1s), and with your customers about the issues they are experiencing and how you plan to solve them. Being able to express your thoughts, ideas, and frustrations is essential. Everyone needs to know what you are doing so they can help you overcome roadblocks. They can only help you if they are aware of the challenges you are facing.

Here's an example of overcommunication

Stay Up-to-Date with Your Tech Stack

Setting time every day or every few days to learn something new can sound like an impossible task. I bet you are busy with household chores, gym sessions, piano lessons, etc., but staying up-to-date in the tech industry is crucial. Try to set aside one hour, if possible, before your shift each day to learn something. Your company values the fact that you want to learn and is willing to invest in your growth so that you can become more efficient and bring new ideas to the team. This is not only beneficial for your company but also for your personal achievements and goals. Try to learn something, even if it's small, and you'll see how rewarding it will be in your current and future roles.

Perhaps you can take an AWS course, start working on some of the FreeCodeCamp courses, or sign up for a Coursera degree. The platform is not as important as gaining a hard or soft skill that can potentially help you advance in your career. Ask your manager if they have any courses they pay for employees; many companies offer this.

Conclusion

If this is your first job at a startup and things are going well for you, congratulations! You've managed to thrive in environments where many would struggle, and you should pat yourself on the back. On the contrary, if you are struggling, be patient with yourself. Try to take one thing at a time, and if possible, follow my advice; it has worked for me and I believe it will help you a great deal.

If you think I am missing an item on how to thrive in remote startups, please leave a comment, I read them all :)