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Best intentions Quote by Jason Fried

“That’s one of the key challenges of remote work: keeping everyone’s outlook healthy and happy. That task is insurmountable if you’ve stacked your team with personalities who tend to let their inner asshole loose every now and again. Even for people with the best intentions, relations can go astray…” quote by Jason Fried
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““That’s one of the key challenges of remote work: keeping everyone’s outlook healthy and happy. That task is insurmountable if you’ve stacked your team with personalities who tend to let their inner asshole loose every now and again. Even for people with the best intentions, relations can go astray if the work gets stressful (and what work doesn’t occasionally?). The best ballast you can have is as many folks in your boat as possible with a thoroughly optimistic outlook. We’re talking about people who go out of their way to make sure everyone is having a good time. Remember: sentiments are infectious, whether good or bad. That’s also why it’s as important to continuously monitor the work atmosphere as to hire for it. It’s never a good idea to let poisonous people stick around to spoil it for everyone else, but in a remote-work setup it’s deadly. When you’re a manager and your employees are far flung, it’s impossible to see the dread in their eyes, and that can be fatal. With respect to drama, it therefore makes sense to follow the “No Broken Windows” theory of enforcement. What are we talking about? Well, in the same way that New York cracked down in the ’90s on even innocuous offenses like throwing rocks through windows or jumping the turnstile, a manager of remote workers needs to make an example of even the small stuff—things like snippy comments or passive-aggressive responses. While this responsibility naturally falls to those in charge, it works even better if policed by everyone in the company.””

Jason Fried

About This Quote

Source Book: Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried, 2013

Maintaining a positive remote work culture requires actively managing attitudes and promptly addressing negative behavior to prevent toxicity.

In simple terms: Positive culture needs active monitoring and quick action against negativity.

Key Takeaway

Promote optimism, enforce standards, and remove toxic influences.

Themes

culture leadership remote work team dynamics psychology

Mood

cautious optimistic serious

Type

advice leadership organizational

When to use this quote

  • team meetings
  • virtual onboarding
  • performance reviews
  • conflict resolution
  • employee wellness programs

Key Concepts

social psychology organizational behavior toxic behavior positive psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance strict standards with genuine freedom?
  • What signs indicate a behavior is truly harmful?
A Different Perspective

Over‑policing minor issues can stifle authenticity and creativity.

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