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I had plenty of interactions at Google over lunch, in the hallway, while taking a break, etc that we brought to a whiteboard and either ended up with a potentia

I had plenty of interactions at Google over lunch, in the hallway, while taking a break, etc that we brought to a whiteboard and either ended up with a potentially interesting project or saved us time by finding out something didn’t make sense. These often came from a series of multiple, low stakes conversations that were much more difficult to have remotely. I don’t contend they are impossible, but for me they were at least much less frequent during wfh.

dzhiurgis 5y ago
Ultimate question is - was it with it?
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
jimmont 5y ago
this outcome can exist remotely, it simply requires effort and maintenance; the gains from working remote are the same scenario, just different context; I haven't figured out yet the specifics of what works because it hasn't been a priority, and what components of it are the quirky part and what are the catalysts for the same outcome (yet); my flaw is thinking outside the box, which managers and companies don't optimize for; in fact in exemplary situations where I led efforts that gained many times the cost of all my work for many years (millions in USD) they didn't notice or care, which I find hard to understand about US corporate and cultural norms; I'm sure there's a relationship between these things, I just haven't sorted it out.
freyr 5y ago
Certainly, interesting work and effective in-person collaboration do exist at the these companies, it just varies a lot from team to team. The trope of PhDs hired to optimize button colors exists for a reason.
tobyhinloopen 5y ago
After a few years of remote working, me and some colleagues just randomly call each other with “watercooler conversations”. IE About once or twice a day, we are on slack and just call each other to answer and continue talking about random things and ideas In my experience, this is the closest to just being together in an office without being in an office
Valakas_ 5y ago
I also had those by just doing my work and talking with colleagues about work. At home. People love (my company included) to say office promotes those low-stake spontaneous conversations that result in something positive. Because these spontaneous conversations don't happen remotely, the argument is that then that something positive wouldn't have happened either. That's a false argument though. Besides, if a company has responsible employees they will think about work, about their tasks. These types of brainstorming and thinking would come up anyway. And if not exactly this specific brainstorm that came from a lunch-topic, another one. At the end of the day, right now most arguments are emotional arguments to force people into the office. Those findings that something didn't make sense, would happen anyway if people just think about work and do their job, in the comfort of their home, in the Bahamas, or wherever they choose to work.

dzhiurgis 5y ago

Ultimate question is - was it with it?

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

jimmont 5y ago

this outcome can exist remotely, it simply requires effort and maintenance; the gains from working remote are the same scenario, just different context; I haven't figured out yet the specifics of what works because it hasn't been a priority, and what components of it are the quirky part and what are the catalysts for the same outcome (yet); my flaw is thinking outside the box, which managers and companies don't optimize for; in fact in exemplary situations where I led efforts that gained many times the cost of all my work for many years (millions in USD) they didn't notice or care, which I find hard to understand about US corporate and cultural norms; I'm sure there's a relationship between these things, I just haven't sorted it out.

freyr 5y ago

Certainly, interesting work and effective in-person collaboration do exist at the these companies, it just varies a lot from team to team. The trope of PhDs hired to optimize button colors exists for a reason.

tobyhinloopen 5y ago

After a few years of remote working, me and some colleagues just randomly call each other with “watercooler conversations”. IE About once or twice a day, we are on slack and just call each other to answer and continue talking about random things and ideas In my experience, this is the closest to just being together in an office without being in an office

Valakas_ 5y ago

I also had those by just doing my work and talking with colleagues about work. At home. People love (my company included) to say office promotes those low-stake spontaneous conversations that result in something positive. Because these spontaneous conversations don't happen remotely, the argument is that then that something positive wouldn't have happened either. That's a false argument though. Besides, if a company has responsible employees they will think about work, about their tasks. These types of brainstorming and thinking would come up anyway. And if not exactly this specific brainstorm that came from a lunch-topic, another one. At the end of the day, right now most arguments are emotional arguments to force people into the office. Those findings that something didn't make sense, would happen anyway if people just think about work and do their job, in the comfort of their home, in the Bahamas, or wherever they choose to work.