{"id":3596,"date":"2020-07-02T10:28:34","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T16:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.textor.ca\/?p=3596"},"modified":"2020-08-10T12:25:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-10T18:25:33","slug":"in-person-workplace-serendipity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.textor.ca\/in-person-workplace-serendipity\/","title":{"rendered":"In-Person Workplace Serendipity \u2013 All Is Not Lost with Remote Working"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"In-Person
In-Person Workplace Serendipity Doesn’t Just Happen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

This CBC news article \u201cWorking from home makes sense for some, but we can’t afford to sacrifice serendipity<\/a>\u201d article argues that remote working results in a loss of \u201cIn-Person Workplace Serendipity\u201d from \u201c[running] into each other without an agenda, get to talking, and creativity is sparked.\u201d I don\u2019t know. I remain skeptical of this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

My experience with my own workplaces is that there is very little creativity. When a person only interacts with their teammates who are people in the same field, I argue very little serendipity happens. In fact, there are theories about this in that it lacks \u201ccreative abrasion\u201d and experiences \u201cgroup think\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Properly Access Serendipity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Where I\u2019ve experienced serendipity is from \u201cgoing outside the normal\u201d. That is, attending cross-disciplinary events and getting views from completely different life experiences. It is unlikely most people will get this kind of cross-disciplinary access at work unless they have access to great leadership. The TED talk \u201cThe secret to great opportunities? The person you haven\u2019t met yet<\/a>\u201d explains how this cross-disciplinary approach to networking changes life in what I feel is true serendipity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, of course, the benefits of in-person workplace serendipity depends on the actual work. If a person is in a field that requires constant creativity\/building of something it may make sense for in-person interaction\u2026 but again, these types of activities benefit usually by working in pairs which may still be able to be done remotely just fine (e.g. \u201cpair programming\u201d). There is a lot of evidence that groups beyond 2 people become less productive.  The article mentions summer students and yes, I agree, in person interactions would work best for summer students. However, saying that a lot is lost by interacting remotely just seems wrong. I myself have supported developing individuals and adapting to what they need remotely has been similar to what I would do in-person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perceived Barriers to Remote Working<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you watch the video in this same article Linda Duxbury mentions remote workers don\u2019t have child or elder care. Why?? How is that the fault of working remotely? That sounds like it\u2019s not structured correctly. She does mention that bosses may not be familiar with managing people remotely but again, this comes around to the fact no one has been willing to try it, learn and change on a mass scale until now. This sounds a lot like “we’ve always done it this way why would we change?\u201d thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A related article \u201cVideo chats short circuit a brain function essential for trust \u2014 and that’s bad for business: Don Pittis<\/a>\u201d suggests that video meetings are \u201can inadequate substitute for real-life interaction\u201d causing a phenomenon now referred to as \u201cZoom fatigue\u201d. As a long time remote worker, I whole-heartedly agree that video meetings are bad. But audio meetings? Us long time remote workers haven\u2019t used video for the most part except for screen sharing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are obvious problems with video meetings; Have you noticed that you look at a person\u2019s eyes but they are also looking at your eyes and because the cameras are at different spots it just comes off as awkward? This is why I\u2019ve discussed teleprescence<\/a> which would resolve this and many other issues. But the fact is, we don\u2019t have access to this technology at the individual level yet<\/strong>. In the meantime, audio is superior to video\/audio meetings. That\u2019s why I suggest for productivity purposes that after initially meeting by video that folks move to audio-only. The article agrees by saying \u201cyou can make a better judgement from listening to audio alone\u201d versus using video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-Person Workplace Serendipity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I believe this is just change at work. I don\u2019t think all is lost with remote working and In-Person Workplace Serendipity won\u2019t get replaced completely by remote working. It will get modified. I believe this experience is giving us the opportunity to learn and grow. For instance, maybe we learn exactly those types of situations of which being in-person leads to true serendipity. Then, I believe we\u2019ll have come through to the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like more articles on the dangers of like-mindedness, a danger present in most teams, see more here \u201cWhy Being With Like-Minded People Is Dangerous<\/a>\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Trevor Textor<\/a> has worked in various roles requiring remote work since 1997. Since 2014 he\u2019s been supporting small, medium and large businesses as a freelancer (contingent labor) with a \u201cswiss-army knife\u201d-like suite of skills. In addition to setting up policy, procedures and technology for himself and his partner he has also met this need with clients in enabling their remote work. Trevor has been quoted by Reader\u2019s Digest, NBC News, Reviews.com and MarketWatch.com. Ask Trevor if he can help: https:\/\/www.textor.ca\/contactme\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This CBC news article \u201cWorking from home makes sense for some, but we can’t afford to sacrifice serendipity\u201d article argues that remote working results in a loss of \u201cIn-Person Workplace Serendipity\u201d from \u201c[running] into each other without an agenda, get to talking, and creativity is sparked.\u201d I don\u2019t know. I remain skeptical of this. My … <\/p>\n