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The WFH Folks

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Re: The WFH Folks

#81

Post by syed_h5 »

overgard wrote: post #15

Honestly yeah. I used to have a lot of friendships formed in the workplace, but the post pandemic places I've worked, there's certainly coworkers I liked but I can't say I know much about them at all. I don't think zoom socializing works all that great, ie zoom happy hours or whatnot but maybe that's just me. On the other hand, not having a commute, and not having to fake being busy during down times makes it easier…

I don't think it is just you. That was a very thoughtful reply. I agree with everything you said. I would never want to give up WFH but had a lot closer friendships back in the day.

Do you think you would be interested in a world where WFH stays. But companies offer a way for you to connect with your co-workers based on your most passionate interests? For example if you love soccer, watching tennis, massive Star Wars fan, love taking cruises, you end up seeing your other co-workers who like the same things. So, you can start conversations based on those interests. Meetings would be more fun when you guys talk about the US Open tennis matches or what cruise was the best etc. While being WFH.

I want to know what you think about something like this.

Re: The WFH Folks

#82

Post by syed_h5 »

bloodyplonker22 wrote: post #38
overgard wrote: post #15

Honestly yeah. I used to have a lot of friendships formed in the workplace, but the post pandemic places I've worked, there's certainly coworkers I liked but I can't say I know much about them at all. I don't think zoom socializing works all that great, ie zoom happy hours or whatnot but maybe that's just me. On the other hand, not having a commute, and not having to fake being busy during down times makes it easier…

Zoom happy hours feel more like forced social interactions. Similar to daily stand-ups, but they go around asking how your day was and what you did in your day. And you have to share that with everyone on the call instead of the group you normally talk to in person only.

Yes, exactly. It feels forced because we always talk about things that nobody is interested in talking about that much.

I wanna run a hypothetical scenario by you. Lets say you are a fan of the new Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon fan. There is a platform only within your company that you can see which other coworkers you connect with that are also a fan of this big show. Lets say 8 outta 10 people in your team watches the show. So, meetings become more interesting because now you can talk about this immediately.

Now add tons and tons of other topics that you might have in common with your team. Instead of waiting months and years to find out your co-worker of 2 years also loves Tennis, you can know it now, talk about it now, and socially have a better dynamic now.

What do you think of a platform that already does the legwork for you? To bring the teams closer and connect more people based on what they love.

Re: The WFH Folks

#83

Post by syed_h5 »

agentultra wrote: post #36

Personally I don't go to work to make friends and feel absolutely no need to socialize with co-workers. I'd rather socialize with my neighbors, actual friends, and family. Which wfh has given me more opportunities for. Although one way I've managed to make more social connections is by spending more time in my local community. I have a pass to my local co-working space, I infrequently work out of my coffee shop, and…

Very interesting since you do connect with people outside your work based on some shared interests/activities.

Do you think if you found out more shared interests with your co-workers, your work day-to-day wouldn't get better? Hypothetically: Like knowing a fellow dev you have worked with for years or a new member of the team is also a big fan of a specific EV or sport like you and is watching the US Open or preordered the new F150 Lightening?

Would that not make work, feel less like work? Overall establish a more welcoming/belonging dynamic?

Re: The WFH Folks

#84

Post by syed_h5 »

zxcvbn4038 wrote: post #17

All my coworkers are on other continents, covid didn’t change that, I see no difference in how I interact with them. Even if they lived in the apartment next to me, maybe I don’t want to hang with them after hours or on the weekend? Maybe I don’t want to talk work outside the office? If your lonely go find a bar - don’t drag us all back to the workplace!

No way are we trying to get back to the office. I am a massive WFH fan. Our solution is to enhance the WFH experience. No way is it about going back to the office full time haha

Do you think you would enjoy working with your co-workers virtually more if you had shared interests to talk about? Literally stuff like soccer or a fav show, or a certain EV? It isn't about hanging outside of work. Introverts don't want that. But lets say a guy you have been working with for months-years, also like the same bands as you do. So, boom meetings are more fun and you have something more to talk about rather than the weather every time. Question is, why wait months-years to find out things you already have in common with people you talk with every day?

This isn't about not having friends, or going back to the office at all. This is about making WFH experience better.

Re: The WFH Folks

#85

Post by syed_h5 »

Markoff wrote: post #61

I WFH exclusively for 6+ years. 1. If you work from home obviously you will have lack of (work) social connections, yes WFH ain't that much fun as office. 2. I don't really need to know coworkers, it's useless information unrelated to my work. I work with some people 6+ years and have absolutely zero clue about their background or anything, actually I am almost longest working person there, I see people in emails cha…

So our intention is to not go back into the office at all. Or to hang outside of work.

looking at things that make work fun as "useless info" is a pretty bleak way to live life. I enjoy knowing that my co-worker is a soccer fan. So, after the weekend I can talk to him about the game. That doesn't mean I don't have other friends to talk soccer with. But talking to a co-worker about it makes work fun. It also builds great relationships which is always dependable in the corporate world.

"Fit into company" isn't an American thing haha. As you said, everyone changes and you are still there. So, lets say you join a new company tomorrow. Wouldn't it be great to know what similar interests you share with your new team from day 1? It makes it easier to get to know them, start work and even gives most people the confidence to ask difficult questions. Thats what fitting into a company fast looks like. It also increases productivity for the new people because they have fit in faster.

Re: The WFH Folks

#86

Post by syed_h5 »

Cayde-6 wrote: post #10

Treat it like joining a new web forum community back in the earlier days of the internet. Follow and as appropriate participate in the on-topic sections (e.g. project-related slack channels). Lurk a bit in the off-topic sections (e.g. slack #random channel, but also look for others employees may have set up like #cooking) to get the general vibe of the place. Then make an effort to ramp up participation over time to…

This is great. You highlighted a path for how to fit into a company in our current culture.

How about all that leg work wasn't needed?

I wanna run a hypothetical scenario by you. Lets say you are a fan of the new Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon fan. There is a platform only within your company that you can see which other coworkers you connect with that are also a fan of this big show. Lets say 8 outta 10 people in your team watches the show. So, meetings become more interesting because now you can talk about this immediately.

Now add tons and tons of other topics that you might have in common with your team. Instead of waiting months and years to find out your co-worker of 2 years also loves Tennis, you can know it now, talk about it now, and socially have a better dynamic now.

What do you think of a platform that already does the legwork for you? To bring the teams closer and connect more people based on what they love.

Re: The WFH Folks

#87

Post by syed_h5 »

cassonmars wrote: post #7

The loss of cognitive overhead of dealing with a physical workspace with distractions abound has to be countered with a new cognitive overhead – putting initiative forward in reaching out to coworkers, setting up regular 1:1s to just chat. While the conversations may initially feel forced (because they are indeed artificial), once camaraderie is built, it feels as natural as an office chat.

Man, this might be my most favorite comment so far as I am reading through everything.

I love the way you put it. We are trying to do exactly that, build camaraderie from day 1 without the leg work. If I join a new team, instantly knowing who else is a Cricket fan is a sure fire way for me to get close to them and fit into the team faster.

Could you please check out www.getparallel.io ? I would love to get your thoughts on it.

Re: The WFH Folks

#88

Post by syed_h5 »

kradeelav wrote: post #12
sedeki wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Setting up regular 1:1s just to chat sounds good. Though if I were new at a company, I'd feel forced to have a work-related/productive reasons to schedule these meetings... What do you title these 1:1s so that your coworkers will accept them, and so that your manager won't lift and eyebrow?

Not the person you're replying to, but as a manager: a manager who dislikes employees reaching out for 1:1's with other coworkers for any reason is a bad one, imo. I encourage my folks to be proactive in learning from other teams and to be adults who don't need hand-holding. As long as they hold up their bargain of a reasonable amount of work done in a time frame, what they do with their time isn't my business. (cave…

I would love to get a manager's POV on what we are doing. Because I agree with you. A manager is a crucial part in culture.

Could you please check out www.getparallel.io ? I would love to get your thoughts on it.

We completely take out the leg work initially needed to build and establish relationships in a work env. We are here to make WFH better. Some of the best work is done when people bond over things that aren't even work.

Re: The WFH Folks

#89

Post by syed_h5 »

dymk wrote: post #41

Meaningful social connections are built with coworkers by doing your job well, making sure you're communicating your work with them, and generally being a pleasant, trustworthy human being. Coworkers are, generally, not the same as "real" friends. Certainly not those on your immediate team. Keep the relationship professional. It's going to be a challenge to share deep personal feelings and views, because at the end o…

So I don't agree with this time of thinking. It is very archaic and less progressive towards a better culture. Yes, working well should be #1 priority. But relationship building goes far anywhere. Nobody is always perfect and having good relationships across teams help you at work more when there are tight situations.

Does taking about politics with co-workers help? No. But does talking about sports, cars, shows, movies, tech advancements etc help? Absolutely.

Re: The WFH Folks

#90

Post by syed_h5 »

rotart wrote: post #14

The lack of any meaningful social connection is a beneficial feature of WFH for me. I've switched companies many times and worked entirely remotely for the last 10 years with a short stint where I was a team lead and the company was WFH adverse. Not having a meaningful social connection to many of my coworkers has allowed me to focus on professional and personal development. When I want to socialize with coworkers I…

So, I enjoyed reading your POV. I agree that having a network of people is important and most of the time that network is created on personal relationship and not just work.

I love WFH. I think our solution actually comes close to your ideal situation. Would you mind checking us out at www.getparallel.io ? We wrapped up our MVP and our whole thing is to have great social connections no matter the work env.

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