Developing Employees Remotely with Gitlab's Head of Remote, Darren Murph

The COVID 19 pandemic has been the catalyst for considerable changes and upheaval in how businesses are run. As a result, many of us have had to adapt to the world of remote work practically overnight, with hardly any preparation. This is not the case for GitLab, which has been a remote company for over a decade.  

In fact, they were so advanced in their structuring of remote work, that countless companies were able to base the remote working protocol off of explicit documents provided by GitLab on how they run their company.



In this episode, we are joined by the Head of Remote for GitLab, Darren Murph, who is the driving force behind these indispensable resources.



Darren has written over 100 000 words on how GitLab runs remotely and holds the Guinness world record for 'most prolific professional blogger'. We meet up with Darren to discuss the recent surge in remote work, how crisis-induced remote work differs from a structured approach, and why he believes it’s here to stay.



Listening in, you'll hear Darren identify and break down some of the mistakes companies are making with remote work and how to address them, as well as plenty of tips and advice for how to facilitate collaboration and communication among employees.



This is an information-packed episode on the future of remote work and why it’s a fantastic opportunity for reinvention!



Key Points From This Episode:

Meet today’s guest Darren Murph, Head of Remote at GitLab.
How the COVID 19 pandemic prompted a surge in remote work.
How the GitLab Handbook and Darren’s README provided countless companies with a blueprint for how to structure remote work.
An introduction to GitLab, a DevOps platform for collaborating to create software.
How GitLab approaches employee development from a remote setting.
The difference between structured remote work versus the crisis-induced remote work caused by the COVID 19 pandemic.
Darren breaks down key steps to transitioning to remote work.
How GitLab facilitates communication between employees.
How transparency of work helps remote workers feel much more connected.
Why a remote manager’s key role is to be an ‘unblocker’
How GitLab approaches development tracks and developing tracks.
Why it’s important to employ a head of remote.
Some of the problems that come with pursuing a hybrid model of remote and office work.
How Darren suggests supporting employees who work better in the company of others.
How to implement a values audit and how it can support a company’s remote work structure.
What it means to be a manager of one.
Why Darren believes that current graduates are well prepared for remote work.
How you should approach onboarding new staff as a remote company.
The importance of writing and storytelling as a skill in remote work.
The resources and tools that Darren is currently utilizing to better himself.

GitLab Handbook

Darren Murph’s README

Kona

Almanac

Leveling Up

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