Breaking up the remoteness of working remotely

I started to write a post with tips on how to work remotely, but it sounded preachy. There are lots of articles with lots of tips. Most are helpful and if you’re interested, this one from Bamboo HR is representative. Instead, I thought I’d share the tip I believe to be the most important.

Socializing

This probably sounds strange coming from an introvert like me, but I believe that interacting with colleagues in person on a social level is super valuable for a remote workforce. Almost all of the articles I found had some form of socializing on the list. It’s valuable for an office-based workforce too, but it’s even more valuable for remote workers.

And yes, I’m aware of the irony. My big tip for working remotely is basically to not work and not be remote. Is that irony? I think so. If you’ve got a problem with that, you have an open invitation to try to write content for Infused. 🤨

Anyway, I’ll try to articulate the “why” of socializing by sharing some of my experiences.

A Sense of Team

The Data Processing team is extremely productive and collaborative in part because we take the time to meet for brunch somewhat regularly. Despite being spread across the metro area, we convene in Golden at a local joint called Cafe 13. It’s most convenient for me but is also the mid-point for Andrea (Aurora), Julia (Boulder), and Mel (Evergreen).

We try not to talk about work and are mostly successful. We talked about Andrea’s plan for a new dog, Julia’s master’s program, Mel’s love of the Crested Butte area, and so much more. Julia brought some cookies she had baked just that morning – amazing! I learn more about them in this one-hour brunch than in a month of meetings and Slack exchanges.

We used to meet about once a quarter before COVID and have slowed down since then, but we should get back on a regular schedule. What do you think DP gals?

Blasts from the Past

Simplifya folks, current and former, have been known to show up at my summer solstice party. This year, it was Dave Nestoff and his wife Rebecca checking the “former” box. Dave was our Director of Engineering and we bonded over Big Ten football. He is an Ohio State alum and, frustratingly, his Buckeyes beat my Wolverines every year he was at Simplifya. You may remember the Ohio State cup prominently displayed in my office – that was the bet I lost every year. Michigan has won three in a row since he left Simplifya, so I never got to see a Michigan cup displayed in his office. It’s like he knew it was coming!

By the way, Joe brought some smoked Cheez-Its that were killer. We had way too much food left over, but two things went quickly – Julia’s cookies and Joe’s Cheez-Its.

Mental Health Checks

John and I meet on Thursdays to get the mail. He takes the checks and I take the rest. We talk about receivables, support issues, dev tickets – the usual 1:1 stuff. The more valuable stuff relates to the health of the company, our ideas on what can be done to improve sales and development with Ceylon Solutions, and yes, our gripes about the state of the cannabis industry.

Naturally, the conversation often shifts to non-work topics. We talk about the challenges of raising our kids, movies we like, trips we’ve taken, and life in general. One of our regular topics is about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Pump Club. We both subscribe to this daily email and occasionally follow the advice. It has a very positive influence on me and covers everything from working out and dieting to mental health and more. I don’t think this would have happened without the in-person interaction – thanks, John!

Bonding Activities

One of the best ways to socialize with anyone is while participating in an activity. A few years ago I learned that Snowden spent a lot of time on golf courses as a child and continued to play through college. He’s got some serious golf skills, so I recently called on him to play in a charity tournament. We took a PTO day, raised some money for the Cornerstone Montessori School, and finished in third place! More importantly, we bonded over golf, a sport we both enjoy and didn’t “talk shop” for even one minute.

Conclusion

It’s difficult to say exactly how these interactions translate to value. But I know these people better than I otherwise would through Meet or Slack interactions alone. I’m more comfortable with them, and them with me, because we have these shared experiences. I think it “greases the wheels” for when we put our professional hats on. We’re able to work through challenges more smoothly and ultimately, achieve more.

To put it another way, when employees report that the company culture is great, I think it’s because these social interactions are happening somewhat regularly.

It’s nearly impossible for Vanessa and Brooke. I encourage you to search for tips that relate to your specific situation where you’re remote and don’t have an opportunity to socialize with other remote employees. Spoiler alert – it still comes down to socializing.

For those of you in the Denver metro, don’t wait for company happy hours to resume. Grab a coffee or beer, let your dogs or kids have a playdate, or go to a movie or concert. I know some of you already meet with other employees outside of work and I think it’s great – feel free to share in the comments.