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I have seen real work drama over this sort of thing, because people misinterpret the 'is-typing' as 'is-paying-attention-to-me' A way to counter this is by tac

by dvtrn 6y ago

I have seen real work drama over this sort of thing, because people misinterpret the 'is-typing' as 'is-paying-attention-to-me' A way to counter this is by tactfully making your boundaries of availability unabimguously and abundantly clear and intentional where you can. Once you’ve communicated this boundary, enforce it. Defend it with all your might but with discretion for when it may need bending (but not breaching). No need to carry the burden of guilt or shame because you’re making a deliberate attempt to triage where your attention is going at a given time with so many dings, pings and alerts all yammering for our collective attentions.

Baeocystin 6y ago
>Once you’ve communicated this boundary, enforce it. I 100% agree with you that setting clear professional boundaries is a necessary thing to do. I am also of the opinion that a big part of that is to not use tattle-chat systems whenever possible, because they actively work against exactly this. Or, to put it another way, refusing to use a system like this is to actively choose to reduce the number of dings, pings and alerts for both yourself and everyone you communicate with. Win-win!
- dvtrn 6y ago
  I am also of the opinion that a big part of that is to not use tattle-chat systems whenever possible, because they actively work against exactly this. I empathize, while realizing many don't have a say in what system their employer uses, which probably (I'm not sure) adds emphasis to if not further necessitates the clear definition of and enforcement of these kinds of boundaries. I suspect for many people who are new to working from home to the extent that many of us have been for so long now, deliberate practice of this will be very difficult and a little painful at first. But like exercise of the body, the exercise and diplomatic deployment of these boundaries gets stronger and you learn new ways to use it without injury while reaping great outcomes with the people around you.

by dvtrn 6y ago

Baeocystin 6y ago

>Once you’ve communicated this boundary, enforce it. I 100% agree with you that setting clear professional boundaries is a necessary thing to do. I am also of the opinion that a big part of that is to not use tattle-chat systems whenever possible, because they actively work against exactly this. Or, to put it another way, refusing to use a system like this is to actively choose to reduce the number of dings, pings and alerts for both yourself and everyone you communicate with. Win-win!

dvtrn 6y ago
I am also of the opinion that a big part of that is to not use tattle-chat systems whenever possible, because they actively work against exactly this. I empathize, while realizing many don't have a say in what system their employer uses, which probably (I'm not sure) adds emphasis to if not further necessitates the clear definition of and enforcement of these kinds of boundaries. I suspect for many people who are new to working from home to the extent that many of us have been for so long now, deliberate practice of this will be very difficult and a little painful at first. But like exercise of the body, the exercise and diplomatic deployment of these boundaries gets stronger and you learn new ways to use it without injury while reaping great outcomes with the people around you.