Chapter2: HowtoHireaRemoteTeam 15 • Proficient writing: Most communication in a remote team happens via text—email, team chat, or one-on-one private messages. If someone struggles to write clearly and concisely, they’ll struggle in a remote team. Equally as important is being able to show tact in written communication too. It’s all too easy to come off as curt via text. Liberal use of emoticons cangoalongway. • Trustworthy:Ifyoucan’ttrusttheperson,thennotbeingabletoseethem everydayisgoingtocauseyoutolosesleep.Makesureyoutrustwhoyou hire. • Local support system: If the only support system someone has is their work one, then being in a remote environment will likely make them go crazy. You need people who have outside support systems so they have peopletheycaninteractwithonadaily/weeklybasis. Joel Gascoigne and the team at Buffer have found that people with these traits often come from freelance, contracting, or startup backgrounds. We’ve certainlyfoundthattobetrue,too.10ofourfirst13hiresatZapierhadstartup orfreelanceworkintheirbackground—andseveralstaffmembersstartedout freelancing for Zapier before joining us full-time.