Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

All companies have one thing in common: they’re going through a large amount of change. Part of my role at Atlassian involves me traveling around the world and not only doing talks at conferences, but actually meeting our customers at their offices to learn about the challenges they face. I see organizations of all shapes and sizes (but especially the older, larger ones) having to reinvent themselves and find new ways of working in order to stay relevant.

A mismatch of skills hurts your team’s performance and increases employee churn. Here’s how to recruit the right people.

Chat can be every bit as annoying as email if you and your colleagues aren’t using it right. It’s ironic, really. The whole point of group chat is to be a fast, fun way to communicate. But based on the conventional wisdom around chat etiquette, you’d think sending a quick ping was as delicate as inviting the Queen to high tea.

Virtually every organization in the world is going through some sort of transformation, whether it’s digital, cultural, or agile. Atlassian customers (and non-customers) come to us for guidance in navigating these changes because they understand that what got them to where they are today won’t get them to where they want to be. They want real-life examples from people on the ground of how to drive their transformations.

You’ve heard over and over how valuable mentors are as you move through your career. You’ve listened to your colleagues’ testimonials. You’ve watched the TED talks. You’re convinced. But what’s less clear is the role of mentorship at this point in your career. Right now. If you went out to seek a mentor today, would you know what you need from the relationship? Maybe, maybe not. And you’re not alone.

Chances are, you are totally over your job. The stress, the office politics, the outdated processes you can’t change… some days it hardly seems worth the paycheck. You’re not alone. According to a Gallup poll, only about 25 percent of North American workers say they’re engaged in their work. A separate survey reports 43 percent admit to staying in a job despite being “checked out”. Why are we so demoralized? Is this the new normal?

Emails and IMs and shared docs – oh my! With all the different communication channels we use every day at work, it’s easy to miss their nuances. Sure, email seems like a good go-to, but it has its downsides. And what about Google Docs or Confluence pages? When should they be open vs. restricted?

From its outset, the agile methodology defined how teams operated for decades. Yet, the success realized within product and development organizations triggered an explosion of adoption. From rapid development, faster time to resolution, to improved communication and better product quality, there’s no debate: the benefits of agile are real and they are impactful. Get stories like this in your inbox.

Pop quiz! What do email threads, restricted documents, and water-cooler conversations have in common? They are the raw materials with which information silos are built. We think of silos as rock-solid structures that can (and sometimes do) survive a category five tornado. But in truth, the information silos we encounter at work aren’t as indestructible as they seem. With a few techniques for more open, effective communication and a little bit of moxie, you and your team can beat the system.

In any organization, large or small, a defined strategy and tireless accountability are essential to making sure all teams are aligned and focused as they go about their day-to-day work. For a company operating in a scaled agile environment, where teams are empowered to make decisions, strategic context must be crystal clear to create a trusting environment where teams can do their best work and drive business results.