Fortune - Is WFH communication driving us crazy?

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March 3, 2021

Welcome to Worksheet, a newsletter about how people are working smarter in these turbulent times.
Every week, this newsletter will share analysis on the state of work by S. Mitra Kalita, a veteran media executive, author, and journalist.

In this week’s edition, Kalita digs into the communication overload that has come to define the workplace circa 2021.
It’s time to stop sending Zoom links via text message. Please?

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’d like to lower-case zoom out a bit and examine how far we’ve come on communication in the pandemic workplace. 

Before COVID-19, the average knowledge worker in the U.S. used 10 apps at least 25 times per workday, according to a study by Asana, which helps teams track and organize their work. Now, with a record number of Americans working from home, the number of apps has ballooned to 13, checked at least 30 times a day.

“We’re overwhelmed,” said Joshua Zerkel, head of global engagement marketing at Asana. “We need to put the team and people back in the driver’s seat so we’re not at the mercy of the tool. Because the world is increasingly chaotic, everyone is looking for any way to retain some modicum of control.” 

Read her full column here.
Wondering what else the future of work holds? Visit Fortune‘s Smarter Working hub presented by Future Forum by Slack.

  Content from Future Forum by Slack  

Saying "no" is a critical piece of preventing burnout

In a world that feels out of control, people need to be empowered to focus on the things they can and do control: their priorities, energy, and attention.

More about saying "no" in the workplace.

Toxic workplaces.   Do you feel stuck or unmotivated at work? It might not be you. Learn the signs of a toxic workplace. (Forbes)   Retired while Black. Nearly a third of all unemployed Black workers over the age of 55 left the workforce permanently in September, double the number of their white counterparts. (AARP)   Building blocks. We're beginning to get a glimpse of what a COVID-safe skyscraper looks like. (Fortune)   Control freak. Startup founders need to learn to let go. 5 ways to trust your teams (Fast Company)   Ivory tower. College has been forever altered by COVID-19. Test-optional is a real thing now (edhat)    

Content from Future Forum by Slack

Middle managers need support right now

Future Forum’s Remote Employee Experience Index found that middle managers were 91% more likely to say they were having trouble working remotely when compared to individuals and senior executives.

Learn how to help your middle managers thrive.

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