21st Century Work Life

In this episode, Pilar shares a different kind of remote-work related story, featuring an unusual (and dark) circumstance showing why it's important for organisations to know when they're employees are actually working, when working from home.  Plus, Jack Nilles' endorsement of All the World's a Workplace , some learning reflections and book recommendations.  Links Article on remote work: Presunci...

This episode is part of the All the World's a Workplace Expanded season. Pilar looks at a recently published metastudy, looking at the recent evidence about how working remotely affects job performance in organisations.  Plus, personal updates at the end of the episode.  Links :  Toward a Better Understanding of Job Performance When Working Remotely: Evidence, Boundaries, and Trade-Offs Tammy D. A...

When we're looking at hybrid workspaces, the emphasis should not just be on where people are working from, but also on how their communication ecosystem is organised. In this episode, Pilar discusses a recent pre-print on communication repertoires in hybrid office work, exploring how face-to-face and mediated channels relate to formal and informal exchanges between colleagues. Paper discussed: Klä...

A little August episode to celebrate the fact that I (Pilar) have finished the manuscript for All the World's a Workplace!  I realise half-way through the recording that while the work is location agnostic, the people are not. (It took me over a decade to articulate this!) [0:00] Welcome, and bringing back the show's original tagline [0:39] The book's done, to be published soon: All the World's a...

In today's episode, Pilar shares her highlights from the book: How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be  by Katy Milkman

Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Secrets of High Performance by Matthew Syed Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Sec...

A different kind of episode today! We're back with two voices, and this time, instead of Pilar sharing notes from a book, she speaks to her co-author Bree Caggiati, about their latest book, "Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams". They cover some of the book's topics, how the research has moved on, and for Part 2, they've got some connection-related personal updates. In today's episode: Par...

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Code Dependent: How AI Is Changing Our Lives by Madhumita Murgia   "The problem that we have is not the algorithms, but the humans."   And don't forget to check out Co...

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Make Time: How to focus on what happens every day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand w...

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary by Catherine Gray Favourite highlight: "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."   And don't forget to ch...

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander Favourite highlight: I love my weeds as much as my un...

Another episode from the season Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation by Kevin Roose Favourite highlight: "It's on us—the people who love technology but worry about its use—to expl...

Another episode from the season: Booknotes, where Pilar shares the notes she made while reading a book, allowing new insights to emerge spontaneously behind the microphone. In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from:  Because Internet: Understanding how language is changing by Gretchen McCulloch Listener Roberta recommends: It's Not Magic. The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders...

The 21st Century Work Life podcast is back - with a different kind of content and format.  The Booknotes season starts and will last... for a while.  In today's episode: Part 1 Pilar shares her booknotes from  How To Have A Good Day: The Essential Toolkit for a Productive Day at Work and Beyond by Caroline Webb Chris Coladonato's (the connection catalyst) colour book: Color Me Unplugged: Mindful P...

A very short episode where I (Pilar Orti) share the reasons why the 21st Century Work Life podcast is going on pause. Stay subscribed though, as you never know when new episodes might drop! Thank you very much for listening and all the best for 2025.  Get in touch: https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us  

It's the end of the year, but we're not making any predictions - things are moving way too fast! Instead, Pilar and Maya review some of the issues that have been blamed on "remote". For an extensive summary of the episode, check out www.virtualnotdistant.com/podcasts/dont-blame-remote-work   You can message Pilar through the Virtual not Distant website: https://www.virtualnotdistant.com/contact-us...

Listener Richard de Villiers reached out to host Pilar Orti after hearing the episode on the 3 A's of Connection. He has plenty to say on the subject of connection in remote teams, and many different frameworks to share to help other listeners think through change programmes and their own leadership. Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddevilliers/ For detailed show...

In this episode, host Pilar Orti interviews Andreea Gătin an event and community manager who is organising a unique experience for digital nomad and remote workers in Romania. Andreea discusses her goals for the experience, which include showcasing Romania as a destination for digital nomads and fostering a sense of community among participants. It's happening in March 2025, so check it out! Find...

In this episode, host Pilar Orti talks to Sagar Chandni, who describes himself as a distributed work practitioner  and a  strategy leader with a heart. We talk about the nuances of these terms and the evolving nature of work, particularly in India where Sagar is based. Sagar discusses his work with startups and the challenges and opportunities they face, and shares his approach to informed leaders...

Host Pilar Orti is joined by Doug Haines, the founder of  Kalium and Marketing Pros . Doug's entrepreneurial journey began with Kalium, where he successfully recruited talent from South Africa. This positive experience inspired him to launch Marketing Pros, an agency connecting South African marketing professionals with global opportunities. In this episode, Doug discusses the development of both...

In this episode, host Pilar Orti shares her new framework showing how we connect at work, and talks about some of her other projects.  If you'd like to be alerted when the Remotely Shakespeare wall calendar comes out, head over to remotelyshakespeare.com   For more information check out www.virtualnotdistant.com  

A special episode to celebrate the launch of the revised edition of The Long-Distance Leader, written by Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel, who returns to the show with another conversation that made host Pilar Orti laugh plenty of times.  The conversation takes a critical look at the "hybrid" workplace - is it a compromise, a hostage negotiation? Or is the problem that we're all transitioning to...

In today's episode, host Pilar Orti catches up with Frédérique Lloyd Bougreau, about how she transformed her career and lifestyle by setting up a Pilates studio in rural France. They talk about cultural adaptation, building a business in a new environment and the Importance of movement and exercise as we progress through life.  Frédérique's contact details are over at her website: https://www.pila...

For today's Recommendations episode, Pilar is joined by Catherine Nicholson, co-founder and creative director of The Virtual Training Team. Before they move onto this month's reading and listening recommendations, Catherine talks about her recent interest: the blend of generations in the workplace, and how to make the most out of them. Recorded on 7 August 2024 For the full set of show notes, head...

In this episode Pilar talks to Justin Gignac, co-founder of Working Not Working, and Nicolina Jennings, the company's VP and Managing Director. Our guests share the origins and evolution of Working Not Working, and how what they've learned about engagement and belonging led to their new platform NTRNL. They make a strong case for increasing employee retention by creating an infrastructure that mak...