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This may be a gap between intent and how the execution hits you. The theory (backed by research) is that creating connection can create psychological safety, an
by meristem 6y ago
This may be a gap between intent and how the execution hits you.
The theory (backed by research) is that creating connection can create psychological safety, and that improves team functioning. Given the physical isolation during the pandemic, many events have moved to Zoom, and often MORE events have been created to help with connection.
Which is where we come to execution. Finding activities and timing that generates connection is hard. For example, whatever your company is picking absolutely does not engender in you what they are hoping to engender.
The downside of being unhappy during 'irrelevant' activities or not joining them is that work is by and large a communal activity. The water cooler is still a good metaphor even when your work does not have any other them around.
Are there activities you and others enjoy that you could suggest? Even if just for your team and closest stakeholders.
Also: as someone else pointed out, mandatory should equate "during work time for which I am paid." The rest is optional.
- tharkun__ 6y agoIt isn't just fun events either. At my place they are trying to establish lunch & learns now. With everyone WFH. Who comes up with these crazy ideas? With a lunch and learn when everyone is at the office, you kill two birds with one stone. Learning is a good thing and it's sometimes hard to find the time otherwise. And by offering catered lunch you get bonus points/goodwill/whatever with the employees. During WFH times this is absolutely the opposite. You're trying to make me work during my lunch now and you don't even buy me lunch! (and no, sending me a pizza voucher or something does not make it better. They don't deliver here anyway.
- ninjaa 6y agoThey should def buy lunch
- hntrader 6y agoThe problem is these events are organized by gregarious and highly extroverted HR/operations types and imposed on people who are the polar opposite to them in terms of personality. There was literally universal dislike for these kind of forced activities in the workplaces I've been at, however these preferences weren't broadcast that wide for obvious reasons (not wanting to sound negative or whatever). Whatever the academic research says, I don't buy it, I've lived through the dislike of these events and have heard enough feedback from people that share my view for me to conclude otherwise.
- kubanczyk 6y ago> The theory (backed by research) is that creating connection can create psychological safety. Did that research use unidirectional broadcasting to create said connection? Because the events are mostly not a dialog, just a series of broadcasts.