Hey, this is Felipe. So, I've had a few friends asking me lately about how I manage my team, especially with the language differences and barriers. It got me thinking about my own journey. I’ve gone from Chile to New Zealand, Vietnam, and now Estonia, and one thing has been consistent: I’ve always worked with remote teams. I've never really known the traditional office life – being a remote employee has just been my normal. So, I thought I'd share a bit about my experience, the things I've learned, and how I make it work.

My journey: From Chile to the world

My story starts in Chile, but it's taken me to some pretty amazing places – New Zealand, Vietnam, and now Estonia. Each place has taught me something new about how people work and communicate. I've seen different ways of doing things, and that’s been a huge help in my career.

I mean, throughout my time at SendGrid, Twilio, and Semrush, I worked with team members spread across the US, UK, Netherlands, Czechia, Russia, Australia, and Ukraine. That was a real crash course in coordinating across time zones and cultures, all without a single physical office. It taught me that success isn't about being in the same room, it's about understanding how to work well with people who are different from you.

Now, at Cynoia, we're taking that to the next level. Our leadership team is spread out across Europe and Africa:

• Our CEO is in Marseille, France.

• Our CPO is in Sousse, Tunisia.

• Our CFO is in Tunis, Tunisia.

• Our CTO is in Stockholm, Sweden.

• And I'm here, as CMO, in Tallinn, Estonia.

• Plus, our team members are all over Tunisia.

It's a real mix, and it's awesome!

Understanding cultural nuances: It's more than just language

One of the biggest things I've learned is that communication is about way more than just the words you use. It's about understanding the cultural context behind those words.

Take Estonia, for example. I've lived here for ten years now and still don't speak Estonian. Estonians speak great English, but they can be pretty direct. That can come across as harsh if you're not used to it. It took me a while to understand that it's not about being rude, it's just a different way of communicating.

It's the same with our French-speaking team. There are subtle differences in how people express themselves, and you need to be aware of those things to avoid misunderstandings.

That's why we use Cynoia's chat features to talk about these things:

• We share the context behind our communication styles.

• We document cultural preferences, so everyone is on the same page.

• We create guidelines for how we interact with each other across cultures.

• We build awareness of how tone can change depending on where you're from.

• And we proactively address any misunderstandings that might pop up.

Building trust: It's the foundation

Trust is huge, especially when you're working remotely. You can't just walk over to someone's desk to check in, so you need to build trust in other ways. At Cynoia, we use our own platform to keep things transparent and open. We use our project management tools to track progress, but we also give people the space to do their work their way.

Here's how we build trust:

• We document cultural insights and communication preferences.

• We create clear processes that allow for different working styles.

• We use async communication to respect time zones.

• We keep project tracking visible, so everyone knows what's going on.

• And we encourage open discussions about cultural differences.

Human connections: It's not just about work

Remote work can feel isolating, but it doesn't have to. We use Cynoia's video calls and chat features to stay connected as people, not just as colleagues.

Here are some of the ways we do it:

• We start meetings with personal check-ins, making sure to be aware of cultural norms.

• We create dedicated spaces for sharing cultural perspectives, so we can learn from each other.

• We celebrate different holidays and traditions.

• We schedule team interactions that respect local customs and time zones.

• And when we can, we meet in person, always being mindful of local customs.

How Cynoia helps us bridge cultures

We use Cynoia every day to make remote work easier. It's our digital headquarters, where we do everything from managing projects to hosting meetings.

Here's how we use it:

• We manage projects with sensitivity to different working styles.

• We host video calls, being aware of cultural communication patterns.

• We share documents with clear context for different audiences.

• We keep organized channels that respect cultural norms.

• And we track progress while accommodating various approaches to work.

Daily routines: Respecting diversity

We've also built daily routines that respect our cultural differences. We use Cynoia to create workflows that work for everyone, no matter where they are or how they prefer to work.

Our routines include:

• Flexible check-ins that fit different styles.

• Clear task assignments with cultural context.

• Regular one-on-ones that respect communication preferences.

• Progress updates that consider different approaches to feedback.

• And working hours that respect time zones and local customs.

The future of remote leadership

As we grow Cynoia across Africa, our understanding of cultural nuances becomes even more important. Whether we're launching new features or entering new markets, we focus on creating genuine human connections.

If you're looking to improve your remote collaboration, take a look at our remote teams solutions page. We're all about helping teams connect and work better together, no matter where they are.

Key takeaways

1. Take the time to understand cultural contexts. It's not just about knowing the language; it's about understanding the nuances.

2. Document everything. Create clear processes that consider different perspectives.

3. Build spaces for sharing. Make it easy for team members to learn from each other's cultures.

4. Use tools that work for everyone. Make sure your tech supports different working styles.

5. Connect as humans. Don't let distance get in the way of building real relationships.

Remote leadership isn't just about managing tasks from afar; it's about creating a space where everyone feels understood and valued. When you focus on building human connections and respecting cultural differences, you can create a team that's strong, effective, and ready to take on the world.

Also, I think my love for remote work could be part of my neurodivergency. It allows me to have my own office, my own space, and that's a big deal for me. It's not just about convenience; it's about creating an environment where I can thrive, and I believe that's something everyone deserves.

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