Ask HN: People who hate talking on the phone, how do you deal with remote work?
7 comments
I've been doing remote work for... 8-9 years or so now.
I'd say there are far _less_ phone calls as a remote employee than in office because there is an expectation in my remote employment that work is conducted asynchronously so Slack, E-mail, and written documentation is highly prioritized.
When I worked in-office stakeholders called me all the time, because they expected me to be at a desk and accessible by phone. It wasn't like they were going to come over from another floor or office complex just to talk with me. In remote, those kinds of phone where expected to be a Slack message or an e-mail.
These days, I pretty much expect 0 spontaneous phone calls in a work day. Phone calls are scheduled in advance, with agendas, plenty of time to plan out what I'm going to say. There's a high bar to pass to force everyone involved into a synchronous timeline and yank them out of whatever work they're in the middle of.
I'd say there are far _less_ phone calls as a remote employee than in office because there is an expectation in my remote employment that work is conducted asynchronously so Slack, E-mail, and written documentation is highly prioritized.
When I worked in-office stakeholders called me all the time, because they expected me to be at a desk and accessible by phone. It wasn't like they were going to come over from another floor or office complex just to talk with me. In remote, those kinds of phone where expected to be a Slack message or an e-mail.
These days, I pretty much expect 0 spontaneous phone calls in a work day. Phone calls are scheduled in advance, with agendas, plenty of time to plan out what I'm going to say. There's a high bar to pass to force everyone involved into a synchronous timeline and yank them out of whatever work they're in the middle of.
With the move to much more remote work this will be a problem for people like this.
1 Write down the issues you need to convey / discuss as bullet points.
2 Metaphorically put your self into a role and play it.
Longer term if you want a long term career you need to get more comfortable speaking in front of a group both FTF and Over the phone / online.
Try Public speaking (when that is a thing ) I know some people rate them.
Oh and buy (or have an employer ) a decent webcam, head phone / mic set up.
No $9.99 cheap as chips headsets (I am looking at you microsoft)
1 Write down the issues you need to convey / discuss as bullet points.
2 Metaphorically put your self into a role and play it.
Longer term if you want a long term career you need to get more comfortable speaking in front of a group both FTF and Over the phone / online.
Try Public speaking (when that is a thing ) I know some people rate them.
Oh and buy (or have an employer ) a decent webcam, head phone / mic set up.
No $9.99 cheap as chips headsets (I am looking at you microsoft)
I have huge anxiety talking on the phone, I absolutely hate it and won't do it unless it's the government/legal related tasks which has no other way for me to perform other than calling.
Having the video on helps a ton, also rely on text chat a lot and try to go into a call prepared on the topics that need to be discussed.
Having the video on helps a ton, also rely on text chat a lot and try to go into a call prepared on the topics that need to be discussed.
I would advise to use some collaborative tools for conference calls and other interactions. There are plenty of digital instruments designed for collaborative work such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom. For informal chatting you can even go to Clubhouse :))
use email, teams and slack a lot
Writing leaves a record, you can go back over and forces me to think more linearly.
usually any time zone differences are taken care by corresponding in complete thoughts. This, That, it and other pronouns are forbidden
I wouldn’t say I have issues talking to people on the phone, but having worked remotely for ~12 years, I’ll say this: if an actual voice call is your default/preferred method of communication for remote working, you’re doing it wrong IMO.
I hate calls too, but having worked remotely for ~6 years, I think it works depending on who you talk to.
With messages, sometimes they're not quite there. Some people will glance, do a thing, but they didn't read the message properly and it's the wrong thing. Or they misunderstand the concept, and need you to repeat it a few times.
Or in some cases, people get offended by words - typically an overworked developer and a tester, or a manager behind schedule, and you need an apologetic tone or a bit of humor before they blow up at each other.
With messages, sometimes they're not quite there. Some people will glance, do a thing, but they didn't read the message properly and it's the wrong thing. Or they misunderstand the concept, and need you to repeat it a few times.
Or in some cases, people get offended by words - typically an overworked developer and a tester, or a manager behind schedule, and you need an apologetic tone or a bit of humor before they blow up at each other.
I've worked in places where text was the preferred mode of communication, and in places where colleagues thought nothing of smashing that Call (or Video Call) button any time during business hours and sometimes outside of them.
I suppose it would be another topic - how to deal with colleagues who default to calling where an email or IM would be fine.
I suppose it would be another topic - how to deal with colleagues who default to calling where an email or IM would be fine.
"Hi Jamie, I'm unavailable for a call right now, but text will work, thanks!"
I don't love it. When I am presenting it feels like I am talking to myself. I deal with it by just doing it - no other choice.
To those people on HN, I ask: How are you coping with remote work, especially if you started doing more remote work in 2020, and do you have any tips or tricks to share with others who might share your plight?