Automattic is the company behind world-renowned open-source platforms, including WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and many more. Automattic has been fully remote since its inception back in 2005. There are currently over 1,472 people working for Automattic globally (they call them “automatticians”), who speak 110 different languages2, and operate with transparent, location-independent salaries and comprehensive remote benefits.
The following is a short video of Automattic’s CEO, Matt Mullenweg3, explaining why working from home is incredibly good for businesses and their employees.
Let’s dive into Automattic’s top 5 amazing remote work tips and strategies that you can implement to improve your distributed workforce’s productivity.
1. Use Text-Based Communication As Default
- Rely heavily on written communication over verbal meetings
- Use the internal blog (P24) for company-wide communication instead of email
- Implement asynchronous communication across global time zones
- Document everything to enable effective knowledge sharing
Key Takeaway: Make writing the primary way people communicate at work instead of phone calls or video meetings. Use internal blogs or chat systems where people can post updates, ask questions, and share information that others can read and respond to when convenient.
2. Build Strong Asynchronous Workflows
- Design processes that don’t require real-time collaboration
- Enable employees to contribute when and where they work best
- Create systems that work across multiple time zones effectively
- Reduce dependency on synchronous meetings and calls
Key Takeaway: Set up work processes so that projects can move forward even when team members aren’t online at the same time. This means creating clear handoffs, shared workspaces, and systems where someone in New York can pick up where someone in Tokyo left off.
3. Provide Comprehensive Remote Support
- Offer transparent, location-independent compensation
- Include professional development, wellness support, and career coaching
- Provide substantial equipment and home office budgets
- Support employee autonomy in work location and schedule
Key Takeaway: Give remote employees everything they need to succeed, including money for home office equipment, training opportunities, and support services. Pay people the same amount regardless of where they live, and help them grow their careers just like you would in a traditional office.
4. Implement Thorough Documentation Practices
- Maintain detailed records of decisions, processes, and communications
- Create self-service systems for common questions and procedures
- Enable new hires to find answers independently
- Build institutional knowledge through written records
Key Takeaway: Write down everything important so that knowledge doesn’t get lost when people leave or forget details. Create detailed guides for common tasks and decisions so new employees can learn quickly without bothering their colleagues with basic questions.
5. Foster Trust Through Autonomy
- Give employees high levels of autonomy in how they work
- Trust team members to manage their schedules and deliverables
- Focus on outcomes rather than micromanaging processes (or hours put in)
- Enable flexible work arrangements based on individual productivity patterns
Key Takeaway: Let employees decide how and when they work best, without constantly checking up on them. Trust that they’ll get their work done well, even if they work different hours or use different methods than you might expect.
Additional
While reading Automattic’s creed, I found many of the topics discussed to be both useful and practical. I believe you’ll find the following points powerful and inspiring for implementation in your remote-first workplace.
- Status Quo: Question everything, even established practices. While previous decisions were made using the information available at the time, as we grow, the knowledge changes or improves. Therefore, we’re constantly better positioned to make improved decisions today than yesterday.
- First Principles5: Understanding the root cause of a problem/challenge by being able to break it down into sub-parts.
- Communication is Oxygen: Poor communication and lack of understanding are at the root of every disagreement, conflict, and poorly managed project. When people understand each other, difficulties melt away.
In a Nutshell
Remote working can be challenging compared to office-based work, but it doesn’t have to remain like that. The key to mastering remote work, whether from home or anywhere else, lies in developing carefully crafted strategies and consistently adhering to them. There’s no better place to look for those strategies than exploring how remote championing organisations have done it. In this article, we’ve analysed Automattic’s top 5 amazing remote work tips and strategies. These tips should prove valuable for implementation in your remote-first organisation to maximise productivity. Don’t forget to read my previous article exploring remote work insights from GitLab.
🎯 Need Expert Help?
If you’re facing challenges with remote work, I offer 1:1 coaching and tailored support to help you succeed at remote setup. Whether you’re just starting out, growing as a remote contributor, leading a team, or launching a remote-first start-up, Remote Winners offers targeted 1:1 coaching to help you thrive in a distributed world. We also provide tech consultancy services—from idea-to-product guidance to cloud deployment and cybersecurity reviews—to help organisations strengthen their technology and processes.
If you are unsure where to begin, drop us a message and we’ll be in touch.
