Why Some Engineers Rise to Leadership - And Others Don’t | Marcel de Vries | Beyond Coding #189

Trust

Trust plays a pivotal role in successful remote work, especially in engineering. Marcel de Vries emphasizes the importance of trusting employees to deliver outcomes, regardless of their work location. He believes that productivity isn't about constant supervision but about achieving promised results, even if it means taking breaks like walking the dog 1. Patrick Akil adds that the office should be a tool for collaboration rather than a mandatory presence, highlighting that social interactions can inspire creativity and productivity 2.

It's not a goal to be at the office. Often what you see as well is that the things that we have become, all of a sudden a goal is like, no, it's not a goal to be agile. It's not a goal to do microservices. It's a goal to get somewhere and we use means to that.

--- Marcel de Vries

Marcel suggests that hiring processes should focus on building this foundational trust to ensure remote work success.

   

Dynamics

The shift in remote work policies post-COVID-19 has significantly impacted both employees and employers. Patrick Akil notes that while the pandemic increased flexibility, many companies are reverting to mandatory office days, driven by control and trust issues 3. Marcel de Vries shares that creating a fear of missing out (FOMO) can encourage office attendance for social benefits rather than enforcing strict policies 3. He also highlights the varied approaches of different organizations, with some teams being fully remote while others utilize the office as an "energy hub" for social interaction 4.

We are not in the office to do teams calls. We're not in the office to write a document. We're in the office to collaborate, to learn from each other, to share knowledge, to make decisions together.

--- Marcel de Vries

This dynamic approach to remote work can foster a more engaged and motivated workforce.