Interview with Cate Huston: Engineering Director at DuckDuckGo

Cate Huston emphasizes the importance of intentionality in remote work, highlighting that effective management requires adapting to asynchronous communication and fostering trust within distributed teams. She provides insights from her experiences at DuckDuckGo and Automattic, advocating for open feedback mechanisms and the need to create a sense of belonging among team members. For instance, she suggests starting meetings with a check-in on team members' feelings to build rapport and understanding. Key Points: - Remote work necessitates more trust to function effectively. - Boring meetings should be asynchronous; contentious topics deserve synchronous discussions. - Silence in communication does not imply agreement; proactive follow-up is crucial. - Onboarding should foster a sense of belonging and accomplishment. - Hiring coachable individuals enhances team growth and productivity. - Intentional actions, such as giving feedback and validating contributions, strengthen team dynamics. - Managers should engage in deliberate practice and reflective writing to improve their leadership skills.