Like many companies who employ off-site team members, Spatial Networks brings everyone together a few times a year for a week of handshakes, hugs, good food, and better beer. Amazingly, some code usually gets shipped as well. Our most recent visit was punctuated by a long awaited change of venue as we moved into our new, custom-designed space, leaving behind an office that never quite felt like home. These visits are important for a variety of reasons, but here are a few that stand out to me each time we have a meeting of those working remotely. Here’s a recap of what got done:
Corralling pesky bugs and issues
Having everyone in the same place allows for more direct communication, presentations, and collaboration to address smaller, nagging issues. These issues often get pushed aside in favor of larger-scale tasks but can be resolved more efficiently in person.
Meeting new hires and seeing old friends
Currently an entire third of our team works from somewhere beyond the glass doors of our St. Pete headquarters. Modern companies with well-established remote communication practices have Google Hangouts and Slack chat rooms. But still, nothing beats having a beer 2 feet away from someone who’s usually working remotely 1000 miles away and pixelated.
Hard labor at the office
This relates specifically to our recent move, but still goes for those who’ve been in the same office for years. Sometimes the pile of coffee cups in the engineering room suddenly gain cloaking abilities making them all but invisible to daily office goers. A set of fresh eyes isn’t just good for spotting a mess, either. If any feng shui needs doing, the extra muscle can make things a lot easier on everyone.
Speaking with other adult humans
One of the things people talk about but can’t fully prepare for is the isolation of working from home. Yes, I can talk to my cats, and yes, the kids get home at 3, giving me someone to scold for skipping chores. However, that hardly compares to the conversational stimulation a healthy office environment provides. While this may not be the main reason for gathering everyone together, it’s definitely a welcome benefit.
Back in September 2010, precisely zero employees at Spatial Networks worked remotely. I later learned that the company had experimented with it before, but the results were mixed. Fortunately for me and everyone else who calls home “the office,” leadership reconsidered, and the results speak for themselves.
Chatting with an avatar or meeting with a group crowded around someone’s MacBook may not be ideal human interaction. Still, at least we can gather a few times a year to ship features, play ping pong, and hear each other’s laughter again.