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It pains me to say this, but I find in-person discussions more productive than online ones. It's not just shooting the shit--for me, spontaneous social chats of

It pains me to say this, but I find in-person discussions more productive than online ones. It's not just shooting the shit--for me, spontaneous social chats often lead to work-related brainstorming. Being in the office next to co-workers leads to more spontaneous discussions.

patmorgan23 2y ago
Yep. Also in person mentoring and spontaneous collaboration. In person and remote both have advantages and will work better or worse for different people, organizations, or situations.
- com2kid 2y ago
  The number of times, early in my career, I had senior engineers come and hold impromptu learning sessions is one of the reasons why I'm such a good engineer today. Being able to have robust discussions about software engineering, best practices and design patterns and all that good stuff and have other engineers hear that discussions happening and stop by to give their input is incredibly valuable to both personal growth and oftentimes the success of a product.
- ajdude 2y ago
  Spontaneous collaboration is a big one for me. I am in a niche department and by simply having an office in an accessible hallway with my door open, people suddenly remember that my department exists and they are constantly popping in my door to chat about ideas. Usually those chats result in new projects
jppope 2y ago
I find the opposite. People frequently show up to meetings in person unprepared. They are also way less likely to document the discussion - which can now be done with AI transcribing the discussion... which is even more productive. There is way more shooting the shit in person.
- badgersnake 2y ago
  I’m not sure about AI transcribing the discussion, is a great idea generally, as I’m not sure I want all the company secrets sent off to some random AI startup, but I also don’t see what precludes you from using it to transcribe an in person meeting.
- nielsbot 2y ago
  i am making a distinction between meetings in a conference room (those are fine remote, generally IMO) vs having conversations
intended 2y ago
Have you ever thought of why? Just ‘magic’, is an open doorway for bias and unreliable memory to enter and influence the conversation. Is it perhaps that there are specific people, who are doing the ideation, or are particularly good at helping you think? Or is it anyone and everyone? If it’s anyone, then is it a social / biological quirk? Is it something else? For everyone reading, this is worth reflecting upon, if only to move our regular WFH / RTO discussions on HN forward.
- com2kid 2y ago
  Don't overcomplicate things. Whiteboards are way better than even the best of online tools and drawing with a mouse. For that matter, post-it notes on a wall are better than JIRA. At one workplace everyone had glass table so they could draw on with markers. People could literally come up to your desk and you could work through problems together on one end of the table. The best online tools are garbage compared to physicality.
  - intended 2y ago
    These are your > spontaneous social chats often lead to work-related brainstorming. Being in the office next to co-workers leads to more spontaneous discussions. I submit that this isn’t my reality.I never spontaneously break out a whiteboard., the same way I dont spontaneously break out into a dance routine. I do hope I’m in the majority, otherwise I’m really unsure of what to make of all the work places I’ve been at.
    - com2kid 2y ago
      > I submit that this isn’t my reality.I never spontaneously break out a whiteboard., the same way I dont spontaneously break out into a dance routine. Countless times I've walked up to someone and asked "hey can I work through this problem on a whiteboard with you." And while I haven't done so myself, I have had coworkers spontaneously break into dance routines before. (Ok that has only happened once...)
      - 2y ago
mmcconnell1618 2y ago
Virtual video sound is rarely full duplex meaning the first person to speak blocks others and you have these really awkward pauses and latency that interrupt natural communication. Then, add in the lack of body language cues that are difficult to see over video and the pace of communication becomes slower. Ideas don't easily bounce around a team because the technology creates a one-person-at-a-time framework.
PoppinFreshDo 2y ago
Absolutely. I'm available on slack for anything, and when I'm in the office I get one after another of people coming to me for issues. There is some hesitancy people have to contact others remotely.

patmorgan23 2y ago

Yep. Also in person mentoring and spontaneous collaboration. In person and remote both have advantages and will work better or worse for different people, organizations, or situations.

com2kid 2y ago
The number of times, early in my career, I had senior engineers come and hold impromptu learning sessions is one of the reasons why I'm such a good engineer today. Being able to have robust discussions about software engineering, best practices and design patterns and all that good stuff and have other engineers hear that discussions happening and stop by to give their input is incredibly valuable to both personal growth and oftentimes the success of a product.
ajdude 2y ago
Spontaneous collaboration is a big one for me. I am in a niche department and by simply having an office in an accessible hallway with my door open, people suddenly remember that my department exists and they are constantly popping in my door to chat about ideas. Usually those chats result in new projects

jppope 2y ago

I find the opposite. People frequently show up to meetings in person unprepared. They are also way less likely to document the discussion - which can now be done with AI transcribing the discussion... which is even more productive. There is way more shooting the shit in person.

badgersnake 2y ago
I’m not sure about AI transcribing the discussion, is a great idea generally, as I’m not sure I want all the company secrets sent off to some random AI startup, but I also don’t see what precludes you from using it to transcribe an in person meeting.
nielsbot 2y ago
i am making a distinction between meetings in a conference room (those are fine remote, generally IMO) vs having conversations

intended 2y ago

Have you ever thought of why? Just ‘magic’, is an open doorway for bias and unreliable memory to enter and influence the conversation. Is it perhaps that there are specific people, who are doing the ideation, or are particularly good at helping you think? Or is it anyone and everyone? If it’s anyone, then is it a social / biological quirk? Is it something else? For everyone reading, this is worth reflecting upon, if only to move our regular WFH / RTO discussions on HN forward.

com2kid 2y ago
Don't overcomplicate things. Whiteboards are way better than even the best of online tools and drawing with a mouse. For that matter, post-it notes on a wall are better than JIRA. At one workplace everyone had glass table so they could draw on with markers. People could literally come up to your desk and you could work through problems together on one end of the table. The best online tools are garbage compared to physicality.
- intended 2y ago
  These are your > spontaneous social chats often lead to work-related brainstorming. Being in the office next to co-workers leads to more spontaneous discussions. I submit that this isn’t my reality.I never spontaneously break out a whiteboard., the same way I dont spontaneously break out into a dance routine. I do hope I’m in the majority, otherwise I’m really unsure of what to make of all the work places I’ve been at.
  - com2kid 2y ago
    > I submit that this isn’t my reality.I never spontaneously break out a whiteboard., the same way I dont spontaneously break out into a dance routine. Countless times I've walked up to someone and asked "hey can I work through this problem on a whiteboard with you." And while I haven't done so myself, I have had coworkers spontaneously break into dance routines before. (Ok that has only happened once...)
    - 2y ago

mmcconnell1618 2y ago

Virtual video sound is rarely full duplex meaning the first person to speak blocks others and you have these really awkward pauses and latency that interrupt natural communication. Then, add in the lack of body language cues that are difficult to see over video and the pace of communication becomes slower. Ideas don't easily bounce around a team because the technology creates a one-person-at-a-time framework.

PoppinFreshDo 2y ago

Absolutely. I'm available on slack for anything, and when I'm in the office I get one after another of people coming to me for issues. There is some hesitancy people have to contact others remotely.