The secret to Chili Piper’s remote working success story

Remote work has become the norm in the post-pandemic era, and many companies are exploring the benefits of having a remote workforce. Chili Piper, a company that adopted a 100% remote workforce model in 2016, stands out as a pioneer of the company of the future.

This blog covers various aspects of Chili Piper, from its remote work model and unique interview process to building and fostering company culture and success in remote work. Chili Piper's unique interview process includes the "Chili Buddy" program, where applicants can get to know the company culture better.

In this article, we will cover:

• How Chili Piper pioneered a fully remote work model
• Insight into Chili Piper's unique and thorough interview process
• How Chili Piper connects and builds relationships remotely
• Tips for building and fostering company culture
• Strategies for remote working success

Building a company of the future

Remote work has been a hot topic in the business world for quite some time, but the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its adoption. Many companies had to quickly shift to remote work in 2020, and it has proven to be a viable option for numerous organisations. However, some companies like Chili Piper had already been thriving with a 100% remote workforce model for years.

In 2016, Chili Piper made a forward-thinking decision to adopt a fully remote work model, which has since proven to be prescient. The company’s founders, hailing from France and Romania, recognised that talent is not limited by geography, so began searching for employees in Romania, Ukraine, and Montenegro. Over time, the company expanded their search, and as of today, they have team members across 41 countries.

The remote work model has numerous benefits for both the company and employees. For employees, it provides flexibility, eliminates the need for a daily commute, and enables them to work from anywhere in the world. For companies, it provides access to a larger talent pool, reduces overhead costs, and promotes a better work-life balance for employees.

Chili Piper's unique interview process

Chili Piper takes pride in its unique and thorough interview process that seeks to ensure that only the best candidates join the team. The company understands that it's not just about skills and experience but also about cultural fit, and so have implemented a unique ‘Chili Buddy’ program that assists applicants in navigating the process and getting a feel for the company's culture.

The interview process starts with the standard recruiter interview, after which applicants get the option to have a Chili Buddy. This buddy is an existing employee who helps applicants through the interview process, answers any questions they may have, and provides insight into what working at the company is like. The program enables candidates to vet out whether they could work with the company and whether they are enjoying the interview process.

If the buddy program wasn’t enough, every applicant also has an interview with one of the founders, which is an opportunity for the CEO to get to know the candidate and their aspirations. This unique aspect of the interview process ensures that the CEO aligns with the company's vision and that the candidate is a good fit for the role.

The company also has a referral program that incentivises employees to refer quality candidates. Chili Piper invests resources in finding the right people, and the referral program helps ensure that only the best candidates join the team.

"At first when you have the interview, you obviously meet the recruiter, which is pretty standard, I think, for Tech or any other company. And then along the way, as you're interviewing, you actually get the option to get a Chili Buddy...it helps you kind of vet out, like, could I work with this person? What kind of person is this? And am I enjoying this process? And what is the culture actually like? That was really nice."

Connecting and building relationships remotely

Chili Piper is a company that deeply values building connections and relationships among employees, even in a remote work setting. The company has established several initiatives to encourage workers to get to know each other, such as the 'Coffee Buddies' program and 'Piper Meetings.' Using Slack for communication, Chili Piper has created many channels dedicated to various topics and interests. Examples include Chili Pets, Coffee Buddies, Making Piper Meetings Happen, Chili Fitness, and Euro Chili’s.

Chili Piper also incentivises colleagues to meet up outside of work through a small stipend, resulting in Pipers connecting globally and forming strong relationships. This strong focus on connectedness comes directly from the founders' desire to be relationally connected to the business, and has spread throughout the company, encouraging employees to care about their co-workers and establish meaningful connections.

"I think it really comes from their desire to be relationally connected to the business. And I think that desire of theirs has saturated the rest of the company and has really encouraged us to be people that care about our co-workers and really want to get to know one another."

Building and fostering company culture

According to Chili Piper, a strong company culture is not just a slogan or an abstract idea that sits on the wall. It needs to be reinforced every day through actions and behaviours that prioritise communication, values, and trust. Chili Piper's team stresses the importance of using technology tools like Slack to streamline communication and collaboration, as well as incentivising employees to connect in the real world through shared interests and hobbies.

By prioritising communication and establishing clear values that resonate with employees, Chili Piper has built a strong team culture that fosters trust and open dialogue. The company's use of Slack and other technology tools has enabled seamless collaboration among remote teams and helped to bridge gaps between team members.

"Company culture can't be just a slogan or some abstract idea that sits on the wall. It has to be who we are at our core, and it has to be reinforced every day through our actions and behaviours."

Tips for building and fostering company culture

• Build a strong team culture by prioritising communication, values, and trust
• Implement technology tools like Slack to streamline communication and collaboration
• Incentivise employees to connect in the real world through common interests and hobbies

Success in remote work

Working remotely has become increasingly common over the past few years, but it's not always easy to adjust to the new environment. Heather Leo, a remote worker who has recently been promoted twice, has some great tips for success in remote work.

One of the most important things she recommends is having boundaries. "I think having boundaries is huge to being successful and to not getting burned out," she says. This means setting clear start and end times for work and avoiding the temptation to work all hours of the day and night.

Creating a comfortable workspace is also key, according to Heather. She recommends finding a space in your home that you enjoy working in and that helps you focus. This will help you avoid distractions and stay on task.

In addition, Heather emphasises the importance of physical exercise to help start the day and avoid burnout. As a salesperson, she plans her days carefully and takes blocks of time for specific tasks such as prospecting and account planning. She also spends time on a Sunday preparing for the upcoming week to facilitate goal setting and success.

"I think it's important to have that outside community, whether it's friends or family, so that you have that outlet to decompress," she says. Having a support network can help remote workers avoid feeling isolated and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Tips for remote working success:

• Build a strong team culture by prioritizing communication, values, and trust
• Implement technology tools like Slack to streamline communication and collaboration
• Incentivise employees to connect in the real world through common interests and hobbies

Structuring your day when working remotely

To prepare for the week ahead, Heather writes down her to-do list and sets deep work blocks on Sundays. When it comes to weekdays, she starts her day by working out in the morning to get her body moving and energised.

Having a structure, even if it's loose, can help people who work from home stay productive and focused. Heather emphasises the importance of prioritising non-work activities, like hosting dinners and connecting with friends, to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Heather and her husband host brunches once a month, which allows them to build a community and deepen relationships outside of work.

Having a balance between work and non-work activities can help remote workers stay focused and productive while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Creating a productive workspace

Creating a productive workspace is crucial for remote workers. Heather emphasises the importance of investing in a quality home office setup. Having a comfortable chair, desk, and proper equipment, such as a good monitor, can make a significant difference in productivity and overall well-being.

Chili Piper has been supportive of their employees' needs by providing a stipend for setting up a comfortable workspace. Heather also mentions that having a clean home is essential for her productivity. A tidy space can help reduce distractions and create a calm environment.

If you’ve ever watched Queer Eye, you may have heard the phrase "clean house, clean mind", highlighting the importance of maintaining a clean home for one's mental health. Having a productive workspace can help remote workers maintain focus and motivation, leading to greater success in their roles.

Tips for thriving in a remote work environment

Here’s 3 top tips from Heather for contributing to company culture, creating a healthy work environment, and embracing humility as a new remote worker:

1. Be an active contributor to company culture: To thrive in a remote work environment, it's important to establish connections and contribute to the company culture beyond just your day-to-day job responsibilities. Try to connect with colleagues and participate in company events, such as virtual happy hours or team-building activities. This will help you feel more connected and engaged with your co-workers, even if you are not physically in the same location.
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2. Create a healthy work environment: Having a comfortable and ergonomic workspace is important for your physical and mental well-being. Invest in quality office equipment and create a designated workspace that is free from distractions. Establish a routine and stick to it, setting clear boundaries between work and personal time.
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3. Embrace humility and ask for help: Starting a new remote job can be challenging, but it's important to embrace humility and ask for help when needed. Reach out to colleagues or managers for tips and advice on remote work success. Don't be afraid to admit what you don't know and seek guidance from others who have more experience in the remote work environment.

Key takeaways

• Chili Piper adopted a 100% remote workforce model in 2016 and now has team members across 41 countries. This provides flexibility for employees and access to a larger talent pool for the company, while also reducing overhead costs
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• Chili Piper takes pride in its unique and thorough interview process that includes the Chili Buddy program, an interview with one of the founders, and a referral program to ensure that only the best candidates join the team
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• Chili Piper values building connections and relationships among employees in a remote work setting by implementing various initiatives such as the Coffee Buddies program, Piper Meetings, and Slack channels dedicated to various topics and interests
  ‍
• Chili Piper stresses the importance of using technology tools like Slack to streamline communication and collaboration, as well as incentivising employees to connect in the real world through shared interests and hobbies, to build a strong team culture that fosters trust and open dialogue
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• To succeed in remote work, having boundaries, creating a comfortable workspace, and communicating openly and frequently with colleagues are crucial.