Chapter 29. Proximity management
by Jurgen Appelo
When I started working as a manager, I had my own big office with a shiny desk, a new, fast computer, and a desk phone with more buttons than the ceremonial suit of your average dictator. I also had a workforce of a dozen software developers, to do with as I pleased. I lacked one thing: I had no clue how to be a manager.
When I investigated my “communication issue,” I realized its solution involved proximity. Sitting side-by-side in the same room is more effective than having two people sit in private adjacent offices.
The first approach: move your behind
When you understand that distance reduces communication, you can try to optimize communication by optimizing proximity. The suggestions ...
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