Want to learn the ins and outs of video communication OR hiring 130 people remotely?
Gilles Bertaux has you covered on both accounts in this far-ranging conversation on The Shape of Work podcast.
Gilles Bertaux is perhaps the biggest expert on video communication. Before his current role as CEO and Co-founder of Livestorm, Gilles served as a Product Designer at Totems (an Instagram engagement platform) and Growth Hacker at Mention.
Having been an active member of the tech startup scene and a frequent speaker on startups, growth, and remote company culture, Gilles has plenty of expertise to share in this episode.
We discuss with Gilles:
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
What does it feel like to hire 130 people remotely?
Gilles Bertaux believes that remote hiring is a less cumbersome process than offline hiring. It becomes easy for the human resource team to schedule and conduct interviews and encompass a wider talent pool. He has a strong opinion for remote working because it provides flexibility, good work-life balance, and increased productivity.
In one year, Gilles and his team at Livestorm hired 130 people, and that too remotely. For him, the experience of hiring such a commendable number was astounding. This number was twice of his previous year's hires. Additionally, he discussed his involvement in the interview process.
Culture-fit vs. culture-add: acknowledging the bias
Gilles acknowledges the prejudice of having a particular type of culture in the Livestorm. He believes that it is crucial to own the change that we wish to see in others. Cultural fit does not have stringent guidelines. It is much more of diversity and involvement of active participation in all the domains in the firm. It is equally crucial to be resourceful and bring a diverse set of experiences to the table. In hindsight of being a co-founder of the Livestorm, he recalled that being a developer wasn't enough to scale his product. It became crucial to recruit people from sales and other domains to scale and bring varied experiences to grow and scale a startup.
Remote communication at Livestorm: async tools and rituals
Gilles paid emphasis on designing a "self-sufficient system".
This framework helps the organization build mutual relationships among peers and clarify communication, even in a remote working model. He also mentioned the importance of rituals in the organization. He believes that having a ritual will emanate mutual bonds between employees.
Where does video come into the picture when the work is async
Gilles discussed the inclusion of videos when the work is now being async. He mentioned that Livestorm has pre-recorded videos for rituals. The host and Gilles also mentioned the penetration of the digital metaverse by Facebook. The discussion of metaverse also entails the comparison of VR (virtual reality) vs. video.
Future of video
Gilles discussed the remote or hybrid workplace market. He also emphasizes internal communication among employees. He talked about the current technical constraints of Zoom. The role of the Livestorm to overcome the same was also discussed.
He also emphasizes easy and smooth interaction via video communication tools to help the future of work and internal communication.
Follow Gilles on LinkedIn
Produced by: Priya Bhatt
Podcast host: Abhash Kumar