WLP380 Booknotes special: a conversation on Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams

Feb 26, 2026

Bree Caggiati, journalist and co-author of Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, reflects on the book’s origins and research. They discuss the shift from niche remote work to hybrid models. They explore designing remote-first practices, diversity and inclusion in belonging, the 3A framework of connection, monthly meetup research, and how AI might change small moments of rapport.

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INSIGHT

Hybrid Is The New Default Requiring Remote First Design

Hybrid became the dominant remote model and requires deliberate remote-first frameworks rather than porting office practices into distributed teams.
Pilar and Bree note remote setups benefit everyone when designed intentionally, because remote-first documentation and processes help continuity when people are absent.

INSIGHT

One Monthly In‑Person Day Cuts Quits And Boosts Productivity

Nick Bloom's randomized test found bringing fully remote teams together one day per month cut quit rates nearly in half and raised productivity by 8%.
The monthly meetup concentrates social reaching-out into one session so the rest of the month yields fewer ad-hoc social interruptions and more focused work.

INSIGHT

Three Ways Teams Actually Connect

Pilar's Three A's framework categorises workplace connection as across the work, around the work, and away from the work.
Each mode maps to different rituals: pair programming (across), industry/company talk (around), and social chit-chat (away), plus in-person or async variations.

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A different kind of episode today! We're back with two voices, and this time, instead of Pilar sharing notes from a book, she speaks to her co-author Bree Caggiati, about their latest book, "Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams". They cover some of the book's topics, how the research has moved on, and for Part 2, they've got some connection-related personal updates. In today's episode: Part 1 Check out Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams, the book!

1. Book and Project Origins

Bree and Pilar explain how their 2019 podcast project on connection and disconnection evolved into their recently published book.

2. Evolution from Remote to Hybrid Work How remote work went from a "niche" concept in 2019 to the mainstream adoption of hybrid models post-pandemic, and the common mistake of forcing traditional office-based practices into remote environments and the benefits of establishing intentional remote-first frameworks.

3. Diversity and Inclusion in Connection: Individuals experience belonging differently and how designing for specific needs can benefit an entire team.

4. Structure and Themes of the Book An overview of the core topics addressed in the book.

5. New Research on Monthly Meetups A new study by Nick Bloom suggesting that bringing fully remote teams together just once a month can significantly boost productivity and reduce quit rates.

6. The "3A Framework" of Connection & Shared Responsibility A breakdown of three ways people connect at work., and the "overarching thesis" that connection is a shared duty between the organisation, the manager, and the individual, requiring deliberate design rather than just hoping it happens.

7. The Connection Quiz A ten-question, quiz to test Bree's memory of key concepts from the book, such as the health risks of chronic loneliness and the "remote-first" approach.

8. Generative AI and Rapport How AI chatbots might replace small human interactions, potentially impacting the bonding and trust-building typically found in quick feedback loops.

Part 2: Personal Updates Talking "Away from the Work", but still connected to today's topic of connection!